LIVING

What exactly do SSCS do? 

We use direct-action tactics to expose and confront illegal activities at sea. The organisation has been going for the last 30 years and we’re on the front line, protecting whales from illegal whalers. We’re also been involved in anti-poaching enforcement in the Galapagos and we fight to save seals, dolphins, sharks and all marine wildlife.

So what brought you to Barcelona?

Well, we’ve just finished our first ever campaign in the Mediterranean called Operation Blue Rage. We’ve been trying to protect the endangered bluefin tuna. Due to over-fishing, scientists say that if we continue to catch the tuna at this rate, they’re going to be extinct in 2 to 3 years so this is one of the most important campaigns we’ve ever done in terms of survival of a species. We cut open the nets of an illegal fishing vessel in Libya and released over 800 tuna.

Here in Barcelona we’re on an awareness campaign, telling people about our work and encouraging people to pressurise their governments. Our local Spanish branch managed to secure this fantastic public location for us where we can invite people aboard and teach them about protecting the oceans.

How and why did you personally get involved with the organisation?

When I was little I wanted to buy a helicopter and go round the world stopping poachers so it’s cool I finally got to do it! I became vegetarian and then vegan in my 20’s and got involved with an animal rights group in Pittsburg. I read an article about Sea Shepherd and the idea of going out and actually protecting what was left in the wild really appealed to me. I joined the ship the day after I gave my thesis presentation at grad school.

What’s day to day life like as a volunteer?

When volunteers first start we try to break them in gently as there’s so much to learn. After a tour of the ship they’ll get started on basic chores like cleaning the deck, working on removing the rust on the hull, cooking food in the galley or working in the engine room. During the campaign there are usually about 34 of us on board but it goes down to 14 or so when we’re in port. We work six days out of seven.