Sea Shepherd ship, the Sam Simon, departs for Operation Icefish

Wellington, December 8, 2014 - This morning the Sea Shepherd conservation ship, Sam Simon, will depart Wellington, New Zealand for a new Southern Ocean defence mission, Operation Icefish. The campaign, Sea Shepherd’s 11th in the Antarctic waters, will focus on targeting the illegal fishing of Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish.

The Sam Simon will join the Bob Barker, which departed from Hobart, Australia last Wednesday, to patrol the remote waters of the Southern Ocean shadowlands for illegal toothfish fishing operators.

Captain Sid Chakravarty of the Sam Simon said, “We are extremely grateful to the people of New Zealand for providing us with such incredible support during our final preparations for Operation Icefish. Our crew has worked tirelessly to ensure the Sam Simon is fully equipped and ready for this year’s mission. Now, we set sail for the Southern Ocean, taking with us a message to all illegal toothfish operators that threaten the region: Poaching will not be tolerated.”

Illegal fishing operations will be documented, reported and confronted. The toothfish poachers will be physically obstructed from deploying their illegal gillnets and unlawful fishing gear will be confiscated.

"It was New Zealand that exposed the exploitation of toothfish in Antarctica and it is now fitting the Sam Simon departs Wellington to defend them. With the crew goes the hopes and dreams of our passionate supporters across the world, and the belief that the precious Antarctic waters is not the place for blind greed and corruption,” said Michael Lawry of Sea Shepherd New Zealand.

About Sea Shepherd Australia
Sea Shepherd Australia is a non-profit conservation organisation whose 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 Australia 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, Sea Shepherd Australia works to ensure their survival for future generations. Visit www.seashepherd.org.au for more information.

ENDS

© Scoop Media