Why I sink ships. Editorial by Paul Watson

48 aquaCORPS Journal N9 n 1977, I founded the Sea Shepherd all of them. Today, as a result of the Sea defense is that our methods have been Conservation Society as an international Shepherd Conservation Society, all effective and non-violent. We do not believe enforcement orga­ Norwegian whaling vessels must pay war that destroying a whaling ship to save nization. Sea Shepherd does not protest insurance premiums that average an extra whales is violent. If anything it is an act of Iwhaling or over-, we simply enforce $3000 per vessel per year. In addition secu­ non-violence. There has been much dispute existing international treaties and regula­ rity costs to protect these whalers from us as to the definition of violence. Our view is tions against whaling and fishing operations have exceeded the profits realized killing that violence is that which causes harm to in accordance to established laws. We are whales. sentient life and non-violence is that which empowered to act under the authority of This is a language the whalers can protects life. However, in a culture that the section on implementations in the understand. In my opinion, we will never reveres property over life, definitions get United Nations World Chapter for Nature be able to educate the Norwegians, the hazy. that empowers individuals and non-govern­ Icelanders or the Japanese to willingly give Not only do we sink and ram ships but mental organizations to intervene to enforce up whaling but we can make it so costly that we believe that it is important that we international conservation law. they will be forced to retire their harpoons. accept responsibility for our actions and that Since 1979, ships and crew under my Sinking the ships has been relatively we defend these actions in a court of law if command have been involved in rammings easy. First we scout the vessels to ensure need be. When we have appeared in the with eight other ships and we have sunk that crew are not on board. The Sierra and Court, we have won or have had any another ten ships, all of them outlaw the Spanish ships were sunk with small charges dismissed. To date, not a single Sea whalers with the exception of one limpet mines attached by divers. The other Shepherd crew member has been convicted Taiwanese drift-netter. We have confiscated ships were boarded and scuttled from with­ of a crime that has not been reversed by an scores of miles of monofilament drift net and in. We located the salt water intake valves, appellate court. We have been recognized we have sabotaged whale processing sta­ closed the valves, dismantled the piping and as an auxiliary to the Trinidad and Tobago tions. In all of these confrontations, we did Coast Guard and we have received a com­ not injure or kill a single person, nor did we mendation from Guatemala for ramming a suffer a single injury. We have never been dolphin killing tuna boat in Guatemalan convicted of a single criminal offense. water. My ships have been given berthage Our opposition are criminals. We "We do not believe in both British and US Naval dockyards and oppose corporations, and sometimes gov­ that destroying a gifts of fuel and paint from the British Royal ernments that are responsible for killing Navy and the German Navy. whales or exploiting fish populations in vio­ whaling ship to save It must be understood however, that we lation of international regulations. Although really don't care how we are perceived by we have been severely criticized for our con­ whales is violent. the public or by other conservation organi­ troversial and aggressive tactics—after the zations. We do what we do for the oceans smoke has cleared—the Sea Shepherd If anything it is an act and for the benefit of future generations. In Conservation Society remains an enforcer of doing so, we know we will not win many laws against pirates. of non-violence." popularity contests in the present. Our role In taking the stand that we have, we is to rock the boat, to make waves, to be have been called pirates ourselves and it is a controversial, to say things people do not label that we wear with pride, remembering want to hear and to do things people do that it was not the British Navy that put an then re-opened the valves that began the not like. end to the piracy in the Caribbean—it was rapid flooding of the engine room. Tackled Most environmental problems and Captain Henry Morgan, a pirate himself. in this manner, a ship will usually sink within threats to are caused by human When dealing with greed motivated an hour. greed. To stand up face to face to this dark pirates, more progress can be made by In addition, with our newly acquired side of humanity is to provoke strong pas­ being a compassionate pirate. To deal with miniature submarine the Mirage, we now sions and emotions. radical and unorthodox exploitation, it is can attack whaling ships from beneath uti­ The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society sometimes necessary to take a radical and lizing underwater cutting gear or a acts like an acupuncture needle to stimulate unorthodox stand. hydraulic punch. a response to a situation. We are the shock Sinking ships has been our most contro­ Most of our covert activities against of the marine conservation movement and versial tactic. We have been meticulous in whaling ships are undertaken by a group as such we fill a niche in the spectrum of our preparations to ensure that we do not we have set up independently of Sea diversity that is necessary for a strong and jeopardize human life and we have been Shepherd and called O.R.C.A. FORCE or effective movement. successful. Our record began with the ram­ Oceanic Research & Conservation Action We ram ships. We sink ships. We confis­ ming and sinking of the most notorious of Force. We look for volunteers with technical cate and destroy nets. It's what we do and the pirate whalers—the Sierra—that now, fif­ diving skill and we have used former US. we apologize to no one for it. We save lives, teen years later, lies as a rusting hulk in Naval SEALS and German Naval comman­ protect entire species, preserve habitats and Portugal's Lisbon harbor. We followed with dos within this unit. most importantly we uphold the law within the sinking of half the Spanish whaling fleet The Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet a society that cares little for nature and lusts in 1980, half the Icelandic whaling fleet in criticized us for using in their words, "trained selfishly for itself. 1986 and two Norwegian whalers, one in killers." I answered that it was important to Call us sea-cops, radicals, pirates, vigi­ 1992 and the last in 1994. use people who are trained to follow orders, lantes, or even terrorists. The bottom line is The Sierra and the Spanish ships were to take precautions and to be professional. that we get the job done and we do it never repaired or replaced. The Icelandic When our orders are that no-one is to be responsibly and with a deep commitment to ships were repaired at great cost and were hurt, these orders have been obeyed. Using the children of tomorrow. retired from whaling from 1986 until 1995. "trained killers" who are also trained to fol­ The Norwegian ships were re-floated with low orders is safer than using an amateur Paul Watson is the founder and heavy losses to the owners. who might cause an injury or death acci­ of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Our strategy concerning Norway is dif­ dentally. Society. He can be contacted at: Sea ferent from previous campaigns. We have Our methods have been attacked by Shepherd, 3107A Washington Blvd., scuttled only two of Norway's fifty whaling other conservation organizations including Marina Del Ray, CA 90292, boats. In doing so, we financially damaged of which I was a founder. Our f:310.574.3161.

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