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Our Mission

Defend, conserve and protect our oceans and all marine wildlife.

Our mission is to protect defenseless marine wildlife and end the destruction of habitat in the world’s oceans. Since 1977, Sea Shepherd has used innovative direct action tactics to defend, conserve and protect the delicately-balanced biodiversity of our seas and enforce international conservation laws.

Sea Shepherd crew rescue an injured turtle. Photo Michael Rauch/Sea Shepherd
Rescuing a dolphin captured as fishing by-catch. Photo Eliza Muirhead/Sea Shepherd.
A pod of pilot whales near the Faroe Islands. Photo Giacomo Giorgi/Sea Shepherd
Dead sharks discarded as fishing by-catch. Photo Denis Sinyakov/Sea Shepherd.
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Our Mission

Defend Ocean Wildlife

From the gentle giants of the sea to its smallest creatures, Sea Shepherd’s mission is to protect all marine life species living in our oceans. Our campaigns have defended whales, dolphins, seals, sharks, penguins, turtles, fish, krill and aquatic birds from poaching, unsustainable fishing, habitat destruction, and exploitive captivity.

 

“I have been honored to serve the whales, dolphins, seals and all the other creatures on this Earth. Their beauty, intelligence, strength, and spirit have inspired me.” - Paul Watson 

Dolphin trapped in a driftnet. Photo Tim Watters/Sea Shepherd.
Confiscating illegal longlines. Photo Sea Shepherd Global.
Protecting the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. Photo Simon Ager/Sea Shepherd.
Great Australian Bight campaign to stop BP from drilling. Photo Tim Watters/Sea Shepherd.
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Our Mission

Protect Marine Habitat

The ocean environment is an intricately-balanced ecosystem designed to support and sustain marine wildlife. To truly thrive, they need safe sanctuaries to feed, mate and raise their young without pollution, destructive fishing gear, plastics and other marine debris that choke marine wildlife and destroy their habitats. Sea Shepherd opposes the pollution of the fragile ecosystem through off-shore drilling and fisheries, as well as the destruction of coral reefs from trawling, and the loss of coastal nesting sites from commercial development.

 

“We fight to preserve the planet because we recognize that we share the Earth with other species and that their well-being is inexorably linked to ours. We fight to preserve the planet because it is a matter of self-defense and we’ve taken the fight to sea.” - Captain Peter Hammarstedt

Training with the Liberian Coast Guard. Photo Karine Aigner/Sea Shepherd.
Sea Shepherd partners with Liberian Coast Guard. Photo Alejandra Gimeno/Sea Shepherd.
On patrol with Liberian Coast Guard for Operation Sola Stella. Photo Michael Rauch/Sea Shepherd.
Patrolling with the Gabonese National Fisheries Inspectors. Photo Denis Sinyakov/Sea Shepherd.
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Our Mission

Uphold International Laws & Agreements

From its earliest years, Sea Shepherd has embraced the mandate of the United Nations World Charter for Nature to uphold international conservation laws when nations can’t…or won’t. Today, Sea Shepherd works with law enforcement agencies such as INTERPOL to help bring poachers to justice, and partners with national governments around the world to stop illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in their sovereign waters.

 

“By stopping poachers and confiscating illegal fishing nets and gear, we work towards saving the ocean, while ultimately saving the entire world for each animal for whom our actions are the difference between life and death.” - Captain Peter Hammarstedt