Generally, when most people think of organized crime, they immediate associate the term with narcotics, human trafficking, illegal arms sales and the like. A key part of this portfolio, it turns out, is illegal fishing. Using the most environmentally damaging gear and employing unsustainable fishing practices, these poachers rake in huge profits while causing incredible damage to some of the world’s most important and fragile fishing grounds. Into this lawless milieu has stepped Sea Shepherd, a salty group of conservationists who, aboard a small flotilla of ships, have made it their mission to stop these criminal fishing operations down by any means necessary. In the documentary Ocean Warriors: Chasing Thunder the filmmakers take us on thrilling high seas adventure as the crew of two Sea Shepherd ships sail across three oceans and travel over 10,000 miles in a mammoth effort to shut down one of the most notorious of these illegal poaching vessels, the Thunder.
“…depicts all high stakes action and confrontation one might expect from such a documentary as well as surprising moments of humor.”
Sea Shepherd has a famous, some would say infamous, reputation. Created more than forty years ago by American conservationist Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd has its origins in Greenpeace from which Watson acrimonious split as he felt they were too docile in their tactics (which is saying something). Whereas some environmental groups use the rule of law or legislative maneuvers to effect change, the all volunteer crew of Sea Shepherd’s small navy favors direct action. They regularly place their bodies and ships between illegal whalers, harp seal hunters, and poachers of all stripes. And, like modern day eco-pirates, Sea Shepherd has rammed a number of illegal fishing and whaling vessels, sending several to the bottom of the sea. Their exploits, tailor made for television, have not gone unnoticed by the media as Animal Planet created the show Whale Wars to showcase their exploits. Never before, however, had a full fledged movie been made about the group.
It’s an amazing post in support of all the online people; they
will get benefit from it I am sure.
Never heard of Sea Shepherd. Love it already
Get this on Netflix ASAP.
People need to see this
When is this going to be seen in Europe
Captains Peter Hammarstedt and Sid Chakravarty and their crews on the BOB BARKER and SAM SIMON courageously chased the THUNDER for 110 days, the longest pursuit of a poacher in Maritime history. I believe that the passion and imagination of our volunteers gave them the fortitude to endure this pursuit and to carry out the mission to a positive completion. It was an epic campaign and an enormous victory for conservation
All of you work very hard to preserve Oceans save and clean. I think the main problem is all those people especially from Asia that demands every day more and more products from the ocean. How to stop illegal fishing if they’re encouraging for the people that don’t care to pay wathever. The black market exist for those that demands those products. Those who ask for fin soup are criminals also, aren’t they aquatinted about how are fins gotten? Greetings to all of you ????????????