Our talk with the fighters against ecological destruction.
Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with a representative from Sea Shepherd, Geert Vons who is the director of Sea Shepherd Netherlands as well as artistic director of Sea Shepherd Global and has been with the organization for over 25 years.
adgoji has been a proud partner of Sea Shepherd for a number of years already.
Wesley Balten from adgoji: Good morning! Mind sharing with us a brief introduction to the organization?
Geert Vons from Sea Shepherd: Certainly! Sea Shepherd is an international, non-profit marine conservation organization. We engage in direct action campaigns to defend wildlife, and conserve and protect the world’s ocean from illegal exploitation and environmental destruction.
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.
Wesley: Thank you! Could you tell us some of the key things Sea Shepherd does to protect the oceans?
Geert: We carry out various campaigns to safeguard endangered species and vulnerable marine habitats. This includes patrolling the high seas for illegal fishing activities, documenting violations, and sharing this information with the relevant authorities. Sea Shepherd Global is on the front lines in Africa, working with local authorities and regional partners to combat one of the biggest threats to marine wildlife today: illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
From the gentle giants 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.
Wesley: That sounds impactful! Can you tell us a bit more?
Geert: 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 offshore drilling and fisheries, as well as the destruction of coral reefs from trawling, and the loss of coastal nesting sites from commercial development. We also aim to enhance our collaboration with other organizations and governments to achieve a broader impact.
Wesley: During your work, you must have faced numerous obstacles. Could you tell us what Sea Shepherd’s biggest challenges are?
Geert: Certainly. One of the biggest challenges we face is raising funds. Our operations are costly, and we solely rely on donations to carry out our missions. That’s why we need the support of the public. Support both in terms of financial contributions and raising awareness about our mission.
Despite our relatively small size and limited resources, Sea Shepherd’s campaigns have been effective because we use direct action to achieve results, instead of billboards, petitions or protest marches. Our ships, mainly crewed by passionate volunteers, have saved over 6000 whales from the Japanese harpoon ships in the dangerous Antarctic waters.
We have stood up to seal hunters, hauled in miles of illegal fishing gear, and relentlessly chased one of the world’s most notorious poaching vessels for 110 days until they scuttled their own ship in defeat.
Wesley: Understood. From our end we are really glad to have you as our partner, could you tell the reader more about our partnership and how it assists you in achieving your goals?
Geert: Of course! We use adgoji to increase our visibility and reach a much bigger audience. We can set up really effective digital campaigns in a fraction of the time that it normally takes us, and without the help of additional (expensive) ad specialists. This is invaluable for us to keep raising donations and improve awareness about the issues we face every day. Your platform is helping us to strengthen our message and engaging our audience, everywhere around the world.
Wesley: Great to hear! Lastly, do you have anything to tell our readers?
Geert: Our oceans are in great danger and urgently need protection. Sea Shepherd is doing everything we can to address these threats, but we need your help. Your donations will enable us to conduct more patrols, gather more documentation, and raise more awareness. Together, we can make a difference and secure the future of our oceans. Visit our website and donate today!
Wesley: Thank you for your time and for sharing this valuable information. We wish you success in your mission and hope that our readers support you as well.
Geert: Thank you! We do really appreciate your support! Together we can have a positive impact on the oceans.
—
Thank you for reading. Sea Shepherd is a non-profit marine conservation organization dedicated to protecting marine wildlife and ecosystems that relies on its donors to keep the oceans safe.
Your support can aid Sea Shepherd in their efforts to defend the ocean and its inhabitants from illegal fishing, plastic pollution, and other threats. By donating, you contribute to their campaigns that safeguard the fragile balance of our seas. Together, we can make a difference and ensure a sustainable future for our oceans. Click the link below to donate and support Sea Shepherd’s vital mission:
