THE SEa SHEpHErdS

Of all the environmental organisations who aim to protect the world’s oceans, none have been more active, more determined and more controversial than the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. We talk to Samir, the organisation’s representative in Bahrain… one such enthusiast has established a supporter’s group in Bahrain, and the only one in the Gulf so far. “My story with Sea Shepherd started three or four years ago, when I saw Whale Wars, ” says Samir. “So I contacted Sea Shepherd global and said that maybe we could do something in this region, and they liked the idea. So, I became certified as a supporters representative, and they started sending me brochures and information packs on their activities.”

THE Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) shot to fame following an Animal Planet documentary series called Whale Wars, which chronicled the organisation’s ongoing battle against illegal activities by the Japanese whaling industry.

According to their charter, their mission is to “end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species. Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas.” Their founder, Paul Watson, was a former council member of Greenpeace, but he was voted out for his aggressive stance on environmental protection that was not in line with Greenpeace’s peaceful protest ideology. After leaving Greenpeace, Watson founded the SSCS, and became increasingly active in countering whaling and dolphin fishing activities around the world.

Their activities have not been without controversy, with numerous court cases and injunctions raised against them by various governments and organisations around the world for their aggressive methods.

Whether you agree with their tactics or not, you cannot argue against the fact that the SSCS sends a powerful message on ocean wildlife conservation, and their stance has gained massive support from ocean lovers around the world.

However, the society is not officially registered as a charitable organisation in Bahrain, as there are very strict procedures to follow in order to do so. “We’re in touch with the relevant ministries to get approved, and Sea Shepherd Global has sent the required letters to the embassy of Bahrain in the US, but the process is long and complicated. We are working on it,” says Samir.

In the meantime, the group holds social gatherings, raises awareness on ocean conservation and participates in events to spread the word. “If anyone wants to find out more, they can check out the Facebook group, Sea Shepherd – BHN

Here, it’s not an actual society, but more a collection of enthusiasts who appreciate the work that Sea Shepherd is doing, and want to help out. our main focus is on educating people on how to protect the oceans and their wildlife.”

And that’s something that we here at Hadag can fully support!