Radical environmentalism: sabotage and piracy on the high seas

Richard Dean Anderson (MacGyver and Stargate: SG-1) even sits on the board proper. Other supporters include actor-director Sean Penn and Star Trek’s William Shatner.

Financial support comes from a number of individuals and obscure trusts, and is all tax-exempt, thanks to Sea Shepherd enjoying charitable status. The group has also received funding from fellow-travellers such as extremists PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

The Sea Shepherds also have links to groups such as Earth First! Journal, the US Humane Society, Greenpeace (of which Watson was a co-founder before his eventual expulsion in 1977) and the Sierra Club (of which Watson and several other Sea Shepherds are directors in an apparent takeover bid).

Space does not permit a full listing of the Sea Shepherds’ activities. It should be noted that both the Australian and New Zealand governments have condemned the Sea Shepherds’ tactics, but have so far taken no action.

Perhaps it’s time the Federal Government enforced Australia’s territorial sovereignty. This applies as much to Japanese whalers (compared with Indonesian fishermen) as it does to the Sea Shepherds, who are engaging in violent activities and technically operating a pirate vessel within Australian waters.

At the very least, they will hopefully be refused permission to dock in Australia again.