Sea Shepherd News

Illegal Tuna Fishing Operation Caught in the Galapagos

On the night of June 30^th, 2009, the commercial tuna boat Don Mario, from the fishing port of Manta in Ecuador, was caught fishing inside the Galapagos Marine Reserve. At the time of capture, the vessel was 30 miles inside the protected waters of the National Park and had its nets out in the water. Inside their nets the National Park Rangers discovered not only tuna but also numerous other species including sea turtles.

The vessel was detected thanks to the new satellite monitoring system that is being used inside the Marine Reserve. This new system is mandatory for all Ecuadorian vessels over 20 tons and all movements are monitored in the control center. The vessel was seen slowing down and making irregular movements and immediately the National Park sent out a patrol to check on the fishing vessels activity.

The Don Mario was given permission to cross the waters of the Marine Reserve by the navy. Unfortunately, it is quite common for commercial vessels from Ecuador to pass through these waters on what is called an “innocent pass.” This time it appears their pass wasn’t so innocent.

The Don Mario has been ordered into port of Puerto Villamil on Isabela Island where it is officially being charged for fishing illegally inside the Galapagos Marine Reserve. The owner of the vessel has commented that his ship was fixing its engines at the time of capture and wasn’t fishing. Since they actually had their nets in the water, this statement will not hold up in court.

Sea Shepherd Sets Sights on a Mediterranean Campaign

The Slaughter of the Bluefin Tuna Must be Halted

The Mediterranean Sea must be closed to commercial fishing, and especially to the fishing of the bluefin tuna.

“The bluefin tuna will be commercially extinct within three years unless governments act now, act decisively and act aggressively,” said Captain Paul Watson, Executive Director of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. “Anyone who catches a bluefin, anyone who buys and sells a bluefin, and anyone who eats a bluefin tuna is an ecological criminal.”

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is looking for a ship, volunteers, and sponsors to finance a major interventionist campaign against illegal fishing in the Mediterranean.

“There are more than 600 poaching vessels operating in the Mediterranean and they are literally wiping the living resources into extinction,” said Captain Paul Watson. “We must intervene and we must take whatever risks are required to drive these criminals from the sea. We have the experience and the courage to take on these thugs, all we need is the support.”

Actor Robert De Niro as a co-owner of the notorious Nobu restaurant chain has refused to use his influence to stop Nobu from purchasing bluefin and other endangered fish. “This makes him an ecological criminal in our book,” said Captain Watson. “He does not need the money. It is a mystery as to why a man with the stature of De Niro has chosen to be in cahoots with poachers. He is paid well to act as a gangster, is he so greedy that he now wants to be one?”

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society holds the position that the worldwide catch of bluefin tuna must be reduced to zero.

Canuck Kangaroo Court Condemns Seal Savers

Captain Alex Cornelissen and 1st Officer Peter Hammarstedt have now been judged by Nova Scotia Judge Jean Whalen of exercising radical and criminal compassion for baby seals slaughtered by the East Coast barbarian sealers.

The two Sea Shepherd officers were taken prisoner by a Canadian Mounted police SWAT team in April 2008 when the Sea Shepherd ship Farley Mowat was illegally boarded in international waters on the orders of Canadian Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn.

Their crime: documenting the cruel slaughter of seal pups. In Canada it is a violation of the Orwellian Seal Protection regulations to witness or document the killing of a seal by a Canadian sealer without a permit from the government of Canada.

Canada’s reasoning is that if people are prevented from witnessing the killing, than no one will care and Canada’s obscene national perversion can continue unobstructed.

After being arrested and released on bail, Alex and Peter were deported from Canada for life. In other words, they were sentenced to deportation without a trial.

This meant of course that they could not return to Canada to attend the trial in late April 2009. This was very convenient for Canada. The two could not return to Nova Scotia to defend themselves, so the judge ruled that they failed to appear and the trial was ordered to proceed without the defendants.

And surprise, surprise, the Judge ruled on June 30th, 2009 that both Alex and Peter have been found guilty of violating the “seal protection” regulations.