[Shadow_Group] Sea Shepherd E-News 12-30

[shadowgroup-l at lists.resist.ca]

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

End of the Year Appeal for Funds 

From

Captain Paul Watson

 

Dear Friend of Sea Shepherd:

 

As you can see from the list of accomplishments below for 2004, we were able to achieve tremendous successes for our relatively small international organization.  Along with these successes have come great challenges this year for Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.  We were hit with a $325,000 drydock bill for repair and upkeep of our flagship the Farley Mowat, and it cost $80,000 for maintenance for the Sirenian to keep it operating in the Galapagos Islands.  In addition, we were forced to pay the highest fuel prices in our history with diesel fuel jumping from around $300 per ton to a hefty $420 per ton.  These severe economic blows to us for maintenance, repair, and fuel leave us struggling to raise the funds for our ships and campaigns for 2005.

 

So yes, this is an annoying plea for funds and the last chance for a tax-deduction for 2004.  Send what you can and I promise that it will be well spent, and we will once again deliver lives saved, habitats protected, and some severe knocks to those illegally exploiting life in our oceans.

 

In 2005, we have sealers to pursue, whalers to harass, poachers to intercept, and longlines to confiscate.  We have dolphin killers that need to be dealt with in Japan, and there are hundreds of issues more that we could address if only we could afford to.

 

Your high seas navy of eco-buccaneers needs your help desperately for 2005, so please give often and give generously to keep us afloat and active out there where it counts the most – on the water.

 

Please visit our website to donate now and consider joining our monthly donation plan.  Alternatively, you can send a check or credit card contribution to:

 

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

P.O. Box 2616

Friday Harbor, WA 98250

Or call +1-360-370-5650 to make a donation over the phone.

 

Sea Shepherd Summary of Accomplishments for 2004

 

The Galapagos National Park of Ecuador

Campaign Against Poachers

 

Our flagship Farley Mowat did a three-month patrol (April thru June) of the Galapagos Islands that resulted in our interception and arrest of three illegal fishing vessels in the Galapagos National Park Marine Reserve.  We busted a Costa Rican longliner, an Ecuadorian gillnetter, and an Ecuadorian tuna seiner operated by Starkist.  We turned over the longliner and the gillnetter to the Galapagos National Park.  We slashed the net and released the catch of the tuna seiner, and then turned over documentation of their coordinates and evidence of their illegal activities to the National Park director for legal proceedings.

 

During this time our crew assisted the Galapagos Park Rangers in the defense of the Park offices and the tortoise nursery from rioting fishermen who were demanding the quota on sea cucumber fishing be increased.  At one point five of our crew were held hostage by the fishermen who were protesting on Isabela Island.  Another five crewmembers slipped past fishermen occupying park property and gave protection to tortoises.  Sea Shepherd posted a constant guard on Lonesome George, the last survivor of his sub species after fishermen threatened to kidnap and kill this ancient tortoise. 

 

The Farley Mowat transported tons of supplies to the Galapagos Island of Isabela to assist Animal Balance veterinarians spay and neuter the feral and domestic dogs and cats.  The crew of the Farley Mowat confiscated numerous illegal longlines from the waters of the Pacific enroute to and from the Galapagos. 

 

Our ship Sirenian completed her fourth year of a cooperative agreement with the Galapagos National Park to patrol the Marine Reserve.  According to then Galapagos National Park Director Edwin Naula, the role of the Sirenian was invaluable for enabling the rangers to enforce the law in the marine reserve.  Read more at http://www.seashepherd.org/galapagos/galapagos.html 

 

 

Malpelo Island National Park of Colombia

Campaign against Poachers

 

The Farley Mowat patrolled the marine reserve of Malpelo National Park off the coast of Colombia where we chased a poaching vessel from the marine reserve and where our medical officer set the broken leg of a Colombian Park ranger.  We located and are presently outfitting a 65’ vessel, named Malpelo Defender, to deliver to Malpelo Island to assist the Malpelo National Park Rangers in defense of this incredible offshore eco-system owned by Colombia.  We are also entering into an agreement with the Colombian Ministry of National Parks to assist in the protection of this precious marine reserve.

 

 

Brazil

Campaign Against Poachers

 

The Farley Mowat in association with Instituto Sea Shepherd Brasil conducted a patrol along the coast of Brazil to deter poaching operations.  The crew spent a month working with the park rangers of the Brazilian offshore national park of Fernando de Noronha.  There we were able to recover missing buoylines and replace buoys that shield off one of the protected bays from the growing number of dolphin watching boats. This bay is the only one where hundreds of spinner dolphins gather almost every day to feed and socialize.  Read more at http://www.seashepherd.org.br/.

 

 

Taiji, Japan

Campaign Against Dolphin Killers

 

In 2003, Sea Shepherd sent a crew to Taiji, Japan, to free dolphins that were about to be slaughtered.  Our crew returned to Taiji again this year and we were able to keep an entire pod from being killed by Japanese fishermen.  We also organized an International Day of Protest against the Japanese dolphin kill.  This took place in front of Japanese embassies and consulates in dozens of cities around the world.  Read more at http://www.seashepherd.org/taiji/taiji.html.

 

 

On the High Seas

Campaign Against Longliners

 

The crew of the Farley Mowat was able to intercept and confiscate many miles of illegally set longlines in 2004.  Sea Shepherd has a policy of seizing any longlines encountered.  Many animals are freed from the deadly hooks and the lines are destroyed.  Read more at http://www.seashepherd.org/longline/longline.html. 

 

 

San Diego, California

Campaign for Seal Habitat

 

Sea Shepherd is battling the San Diego City Council to prevent the dredging of the only beach south of Los Angeles which harbor seals use as a rookery.  We are working to force the City Council to abide by Federal law specifically the Marine Mammal Protection Act.  Read more at http://www.seashepherd.org/news/media_041014_1.html.

 

 

 

Sea Shepherd Plans for 2005

 

In 2005, we intend to send the Farley Mowat to Eastern Canada to protect cod and other over-exploited fish on the Newfoundland Grand Banks, and to protect defenseless harp and hood seals on the ices floes where sealers have vowed to slaughter over 350,000 animals.  We also need to keep the Sirenian operating for the final year of our contract to protect the Galapagos, and we need to deliver the Malpelo Defender to Malpelo Island.  We will be sending a crew back to Japan to save more dolphins from death or captivity and we will continue our campaign to keep pressure on the dolphin killers of Taiji.  I will be meeting with the President of Senegal to work out an agreement to pursue poachers off the Senegalese coast.  We also need to keep up our opposition to Japanese and Norwegian whaling operations.

 

Your much-needed donations are the support that is our lifeblood.  In the spirit of the season, we hope that you will continue to help us do our best in 2005 to achieve even more than we have in the year just past.

 

Thank you and Happy New Year,

 

Captain Paul Watson

Founder and President, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

Director - Instituto Sea Shepherd Brasil

National Director - Sierra Club (2003-2006)

Director - Farley Mowat Institute

Co-Founder/Greenpeace Foundation (1972)

Co-Founder/Greenpeace International (1979)

 

********************************************************************************

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization in the U.S.  

Founded in 1977 by Captain Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd’s mission is 

to defend, conserve and protect marine wildlife and their ecosystems.  

 

Volunteer with Sea Shepherd

http://www.seashepherd.org/volunteer.html  

View artwork for sale in our Fine Arts Gallery

http://www.seashepherd.org/gallery.html 

 

Discover treasures in our Sea Shop

http://store.estreet.com/seashepherd/StoreFront.bok  

 

Please be as generous as you can and support our efforts today!

http://www.seashepherd.org/donate.html  

 

********************************************************************************

 

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society 

PO Box 2616 

Friday Harbor, WA  98250 

USA 

Phone: +1-360 370-5650 

Fax: +1-360-370-5651 

Website: www.seashepherd.org

Email: info at seashepherd.org

 



++++++++++++++++++++++++++STOP THE WALL++++++++++++++++++++++++++

www.stopthewall.org www.nad-plo.org www.hrw.org www.pal-arc.org www.endtheoccupation.org www.sustaincampaign.org






		
---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
 Send a seasonal email greeting and help others. Do good.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.resist.ca/pipermail/shadowgroup-l/attachments/20041230/26d25150/attachment.html>