Introducing Sea Shepherd - A Teachers Guide

• Social Studies
• 6-9 Grade
• 9-12 Grade

Introduction

This presentation has been prepared for teachers to learn more about Sea Shepherd and the work we have been undertaking for over 40 years to protect the ocean and marine wildlife.

Instructions

A teachers introduction to Sea Shepherd before teaching our lessons.

Contact: [e-mail]
© Sea Shepherd 2021

INTRODUCING SEA SHEPHERD

Marine Conservation in Action

For over 40 years Sea Shepherd has been defending the ocean and marine wildlife worldwide.

In this section we give you an insight into the work of our founder, Captain Paul Watson, and our dedicated volunteers.

You can find out about our mission, explore our ships, experience some of the wonderful achievements that have happened over our 40 plus year history and find out where we are currently working on marine conservation issues.  

Find out how you can support Sea Shepherd and become part of the movement taking direct action For The Ocean.

For over 40 years Sea Shepherd has been defending the ocean and marine wildlife worldwide.

Defending the Ocean

since 1977

Captain Paul Watson founded

Sea Shepherd in 1977.

Sea Shepherd began its journey to become the most effective direct action marine conservation organisation with just one vessel. Our first ship was a British-registered fishing trawler and was aptly named Sea Shepherd. 

While Sea Shepherd started in Canada, today we have operations all over the world. Sea Shepherd is a global movement made up of people, just like you, who care and believe that that we can make a difference.

Sea Shepherd runs on the efforts of volunteers and the donations we receive from our supporters around the world.

Our Mission

The original mission of Sea Shepherd was marine mammal protection and conservation with an immediate goal of shutting down illegal whaling and sealing operations, but was later expanded to include all marine wildlife.

Sea Shepherd’s current 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. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately balanced oceanic ecosystems and working to ensure their survival for future generations.

OUR MISSION

The original mission of Sea Shepherd was marine mammal protection and conservation with an immediate goal of shutting down illegal whaling and sealing operations.

Sea Shepherd’s current 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. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately balanced oceanic ecosystems and working to ensure their survival for future generations.

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.

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.

OUR LOGOS

We have two main logos.  

Our Whale logo with the whale and dolphin, which is our original logo and then the Jolly Roger.

Because of our direct actions over the years, we often get called pirates especially by the illegal whalers. It’s a name we can laugh about especially given the people that call us pirates are generally the ones doing something illegal on the high seas, like the whalers. Paul Watson decided that if our opponents think that we are pirates and they are scared of us, then maybe we should fly our own Jolly Roger flag.

 

We have two main logos.  

Our Whale logo with the whale and dolphin, which is our original logo and then the Jolly Roger.

Because of our direct actions over the years, we often get called pirates especially by the illegal whalers. It’s a name we can laugh about especially given the people that call us pirates are generally the ones doing something illegal on the high seas, like the whalers. Paul Watson decided that if our opponents think that we are pirates and they are scared of us, then maybe we should fly our own Jolly Roger flag.

There are four key components of the

Sea Shepherd Jolly Roger

The
skull, which represents mankind and is there to remind us that of all
the species living on this planet, humans are the Apex predator. We see
ourselves as the dominant species on this planet and that we own
everything, but we are not the only ones who live on this planet and we
couldn’t live without the many other species who also call it home. 

There are four key components of the
Sea Shepherd Jolly Roger

The skull, which represents mankind and is there to remind us that of all the species living on this planet, humans are the Apex predator. We see ourselves as the dominant species on this planet and that we own everything, but we are not the only ones who live on this planet and we couldn’t live without the many other species who also call it home. 

There are four key components of the

Sea Shepherd Jolly Roger

The Yin Yang is a symbol, which shows how apparently opposing forces can actually interact and complement each other. Our Yin Yang is of a whale and a dolphin, which represents that we need to live in harmony with our environment. By learning from whales and dolphins and how they live in balance with each other and their environment, we can learn how to live with them. They depend on the survival of their ecosystems so they know how to look after their environment without impacting on it. They live within its means and take only what they need to survive. We must learn to do the same, if we want to save the oceans. 

The Yin Yang is a symbol, which shows how apparently opposing forces can actually interact and complement each other. Our Yin Yang is of a whale and a dolphin, which represents that we need to live in harmony with our environment.

By learning from whales and dolphins and how they live in balance with each other and their environment, we can learn how to live with them. They depend on the survival of their ecosystems so they know how to look after their environment without impacting on it. They live within its means and take only what they need to survive. We must learn to do the same, if we want to save the oceans. 

There are four key components of the

Sea Shepherd Jolly Roger

Neptune’s trident, in roman mythology Neptune is the God of the seas and freshwater. He was said to carry a trident that could cause earthquakes, destroying and creating lands and renewing the oceans.  But a trident is also a weapon of war.  For us it represents our willingness to stand and protect the oceans and their inhabitants from harm and the need to defend them. 
Shepherd’s staff or crook. Shepherds are known for watching over and protecting their flock from danger.  As Shepherds of the Sea we are here to do that for our oceans; always watching and looking for areas where injustices or illegal activity is taking place and where species and ecosystems are under threat.

Neptune’s trident, in roman mythology Neptune is the God of the seas and freshwater. He was said to carry a trident that could cause earthquakes, destroying and creating lands and renewing the oceans.  But a trident is also a weapon of war.  For us it represents our willingness to stand and protect the oceans and their inhabitants from harm and the need to defend them.

Shepherd’s staff or crook. Shepherds are known for watching over and protecting their flock from danger.  As Shepherds of the Sea we are here to do that for our oceans; always watching and looking for areas where injustices or illegal activity is taking place and where species and ecosystems are under threat.

DEFEND CONSERVE PROTECT

Sea Shepherd is a direct action organization, which means we take physical action to intervene and protect marine life, making an immediate difference to the oceans. There are three ways we do this, which is covered by our motto

DEFEND CONSERVE PROTECT

DEFEND
Sea Shepherd investigates and documents when laws to protect the world's oceans and marine wildlife are not enforced. We use innovative, direct actions to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas marine sanctuaries and in countries' sovereign waters through cooperative agreements with established law enforcement agencies.

Sea Shepherd is a direct action organization, which means we take physical action to intervene and protect marine life, making an immediate difference to the oceans. There are three ways we do this, which is covered by our motto
DEFEND CONSERVE PROTECT

DEFEND
Sea Shepherd investigates and documents when laws to protect the world's oceans and marine wildlife are not enforced. We use innovative, direct actions to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas marine sanctuaries and in countries' sovereign waters through cooperative agreements with established law enforcement agencies.

CONSERVE

Working with law enforcement
Some of Sea Shepherd’s most successful campaigns were conducted in cooperation with international law enforcement agencies such as INTERPOL. We also regularly assist nations who are lacking the resources to defend their own coastal waters from IUU fishing, such as Liberia and Gabon in West Africa, and protecting marine sanctuaries from poachers in the Galapagos.

CONSERVE

Working with law enforcement
Some of Sea Shepherd’s most successful campaigns were conducted in cooperation with international law enforcement agencies such as INTERPOL.

We also regularly assist nations who are lacking the resources to defend their own coastal waters from IUU fishing, such as Liberia and Gabon in West Africa, and protecting marine sanctuaries from poachers in the Galapagos.

PROTECT

Direct Action

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

PROTECT

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.

UP HOLDING THE LAW

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.

Where a law enforcement vacuum exists, Sea Shepherd acts to fill that void.

UP HOLDING THE LAW

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.

Where a law enforcement vacuum exists, Sea Shepherd acts to fill that void.

OUR FOCUS

IUU FISHING

While there are many issues impacting the oceans, Sea Shepherd's current focus falls under four main areas.
ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED (IUU) FISHING

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a global problem that threatens the health of marine ecosystems as well as the livelihood of coastal fishermen.

Legal fishing operations that observe quotas and by-catch laws are already forced to compete for fewer and fewer fish, yet an estimated 15-40% of the total global catch is caught illegally. The problem is particularly acute for nations that lack the resources to enforce local fishing laws, which is why Sea Shepherd works with governments like in Gabon and Liberia to make a real difference for the future of our oceans.

IUU FISHING

While there are many issues impacting the oceans, Sea Shepherd's current focus falls under four main areas.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a global problem that threatens the health of marine ecosystems as well as the livelihood of coastal fishermen.

Legal fishing operations that observe quotas and by-catch laws are already forced to compete for fewer and fewer fish, yet an estimated 15-40% of the total global catch is caught illegally. The problem is particularly acute for nations that lack the resources to enforce local fishing laws, which is why Sea Shepherd works with governments like in Gabon and Liberia to make a real difference for the future of our oceans.

POACHING

Sea Shepherd has been using direct action to stop illegal whale poachers around the world since 1979. After commercial whaling almost drove whales to extinction, a global moratorium was put into place in 1986. However, some countries have refused to recognize the ban. Norway and Iceland continue commercial whaling. During our ten years of campaigns in Antarctica, Sea Shepherd’s Southern Ocean Whale Defence direct-action campaigns successfully prevented the slaughter of over 6000 whales.

Sea Shepherd has also opposed the slaughter of seals in Canada since 1978. Despite a ban on the import of seal products into the US and EU, Canada continues to club thousands of seal pups to death every year.

POACHING

Sea Shepherd has been using direct action to stop illegal whale poachers around the world since 1979. After commercial whaling almost drove whales to extinction, a global moratorium was put into place in 1986.

During our ten years of campaigns in Antarctica, Sea Shepherd’s Southern Ocean Whale Defence direct-action campaigns successfully prevented the slaughter of over 6000 whales.

Sea Shepherd has also opposed the slaughter of seals in Canada since 1978. Despite a ban on the import of seal products into the US and EU, Canada continues to club thousands of seal pups to death every year.

OCEAN POLLUTION

Marine debris is choking our ocean, creating a devastating impact on marine ecosystems world-wide. Alongside consumer items such as plastic bottles and straws, aluminum cans, rubber balloons, plastic bags and cigarette lighters, is industrial fishing gear such as line, nets, ropes, hooks, and buoys lost or discarded at sea. Marine debris is a danger to all marine life including birds, sharks, turtles and marine mammals, causing injury or death through drowning, entanglement, or starvation following ingestion. It’s also a serious health risk for humans, because microplastics ingested by marine animals absorb manmade toxins such as PCBs, DDT, BPA and mercury, whose effects are intensified as they pass up the food chain, making it another good reason to stop eating fish altogether.

OCEAN POLLUTION

Marine debris is choking our ocean, creating a devastating impact on marine ecosystems world-wide. Alongside consumer items such as plastic bottles and straws, rubber balloons, plastic bags and cigarette lighters, is industrial fishing gear such as line, nets, ropes, hooks, and buoys lost or discarded at sea.

Marine debris is a danger to all marine life including birds, sharks, turtles and marine mammals, causing injury or death through drowning, entanglement, or starvation following ingestion. It’s also a serious health risk for humans, because microplastics ingested by marine animals absorb manmade toxins such as PCBs, DDT, BPA and mercury, making it another good reason to stop eating fish altogether.

OFFSHORE DRILLING – CLIMATE CHANGE

OFFSHORE DRILLING – CLIMATE CHANGE

Offshore drilling accidents, blowouts and spills have caused some of the biggest manmade environmental disasters of our time, affecting marine wildlife and the livelihood of coastal communities.

Sea Shepherd teamed up with Ocean Alliance in 2014 to research the long-term impact of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the use of toxic chemicals that dispersed oil throughout the waters and food chain.

To prevent the possibility of another disaster, in 2016 Sea Shepherd helped successfully block BP from establishing new offshore drilling operations in the pristine waters of the Great Australian Bight.

OUR HISTORY

During our over 40 years defending the oceans we have conducted over 200 campaigns around the world.  To find out how we have been protect marine species watch our “Stand Fast” series to see some of the highlights.

You can also step through some of the highlights of our history here:
https://www.seashepherdglobal.org/who-we-are/history/

Warning – some of these videos contain graphic images of seal clubbing, dolphin hunts, whaling and finned sharks. These images can be upsetting to watch, but reflect what Sea Shepherd and our volunteers have had to confront during campaigns and continues to fight against.

OUR HISTORY

During our over 40 years defending the oceans we have conducted over 200 campaigns around the world.  To find out how we have been protect marine species watch our “Stand Fast” series to see some of the highlights.

You can also step through some of the highlights of our history here:
https://www.seashepherdglobal.org/who-we-are/history/

Warning – some of these videos contain graphic images of seal clubbing, dolphin hunts, whaling and finned sharks. These images can be upsetting to watch, but reflect what Sea Shepherd and our volunteers have had to confront during campaigns and continues to fight against.

OUR CURRENT CAMPAIGNS

Take a look at the map to find the locations

and details of our most recent campaigns.

WORLD MAP
Take a look at the map to find the locations and details of our most recent campaigns.
INSERT WORLD MAP WITH HOVER POINTS FOR CAMPAIGN LOCATIONS AND SHORT SUMMARY – Use campaign logos and/or ships images to highlight locations.

OUR CURRENT CAMPAIGNS
Take a look at the map to find the locations of our most recent campaigns.

HOW YOU CAN BE PART OF THE MOVEMENT

Supporting Sea Shepherd
Sea Shepherd has grown over the years, due to the hard work of volunteers and donations from our supporters.  With so much work still to achieve on-going support is critical to defending the oceans.

Become a regular donor and help keep our ships at sea. Visit our website for more information. https://act.seashepherdglobal.org/

Shop to support – by purchasing Official Sea Shepherd merchandise not only can you proudly wear the Sea Shepherd Jolly Roger but help protect marine life, as all profits go into our campaigns. Visit www.seashepherdsstore.com to find your nearest eStore.

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HOW YOU CAN BE PART OF THE MOVEMENT

Supporting Sea Shepherd
Sea Shepherd has grown over the years, due to the hard work of volunteers and donations from our supporters.  With so much work still to achieve on-going support is critical to defending the oceans.

Become a regular donor and help keep our ships at sea. Visit our website for more information. https://act.seashepherdglobal.org/

Shop to support – by purchasing Official Sea Shepherd merchandise and help protect marine wildlife, as all profits go into our campaigns.

Visit www.seashepherdsstore.com to find your nearest eStore.

HOW YOU CAN BE PART OF THE MOVEMENT

Be part of the movement
-    Become an onshore volunteer – around the world Sea Shepherd local chapters are working on the ground to help raise funds and awareness of ocean issues. Visit our website to find your nearest chapter: https://www.seashepherdglobal.org/global/locations/
-    Join our ships crew – apply to volunteer on our ships and be part of our direct action campaigns around the world. https://www.seashepherdglobal.org/get-involved/volunteer-sea/
-    Join our volunteers and participate in beach clean ups or dives to remove ghost nets.

Visit our website to find out how to become a volunteer:

www.seashepherdglobal.org

HOW YOU CAN BE PART OF THE MOVEMENT

Become an onshore volunteer – around the world Sea Shepherd local chapters are working on the ground to help raise funds and awareness of ocean issues. Visit our website to find your nearest chapter: www.seashepherdglobal.org/global/locations/

Join our ships crew – apply to volunteer on our ships and be part of our direct action campaigns around the world. https://www.seashepherdglobal.org/get-involved/volunteer-sea/

Join our volunteers and participate in beach clean ups or dives to remove ghost nets.

www.seashepherdglobal.org