Author: sscssite2017

Veteran Cove Guardian Angela Banovic has been denied entry into Japan!

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Angela landed in Osaka the night of August 29th. She was detained and interrogated in a small room for over five hours. During the questioning her body and luggage was searched.

Angela has participated in the Cove Guardian campaign on two previous occasions, with the more recent in 2015 as a ground leader. As with all Cove Guardians, Angela has never been arrested or detained, in Japan or elsewhere, she has never violated any Japanese laws and she has always conducted herself with the utmost of respect toward everyone, while in Japan.

In the recent years, Japan has begun to regularly deny and exclude any Sea Shepherd volunteer from entry into their country. They first began targeting our veteran crew members, hoping this would somehow stop our campaign and when that failed, they ramped up their harassment of Sea Shepherd.

In 2016, new laws were passed that strictly apply to Sea Shepherd crew members. Under these laws our volunteers could face criminal charges, be arrested and deported for acts that they have defined as “terrorism” and “conspiracy”, simply for peacefully taking photos and video. Because of these threats, for the first time in 10 years, no Cove Guardians were present during the 2017/2018 slaughter season, however this year the crew has resolved to face whatever consequences or punishments come their way, as they believe that bringing the truth to light is more important and valuable than their personal freedom.

All other NGOs, as well as independent individuals have always and are still allowed to enter the country and travel to Taiji, yet they employ the same exact methods as Sea Shepherd to document the activity at the killing cove.

Make no mistake about it, Angela was denied entry into this country, simply because she is a Sea Shepherd volunteer, and this is unjust discrimination, as Japan wants to continue to prevent Sea Shepherd from exposing their ruthless and cold-blooded dolphin slaughter for the world to see.

With the exception of 2017/2018, each year since 2010, Sea Shepherd’s Cove Guardians have been on the ground in Taiji daily throughout the six-month drive hunt season – which spans from September 1 until March – documenting and live streaming every capture and slaughter of dolphins and small whales as part of our dolphin protection campaign, ensuring the eyes of the world remain on Taiji’s infamous killing cove. Sea Shepherd was the first organization to expose this atrocity in 2003, when our photographer Brooke MacDonald captured the first horrific images of the dolphin drive.

Our Cove Guardian volunteers have documented time and time again the inextricable link between captivity and the slaughter. In Taiji, dolphin killers and trainers work side-by-side to hand-pick the “prettiest” dolphins (those without visible scars) to be sold for captivity. This occurs simultaneously to the slaughter process, and newly imprisoned captive dolphins must witness the murder of their family members before their very eyes. Those taken captive are transported to Taiji Harbor’s holding pens or are immediately taken to one of three captive

facilities in Taiji. Some are ultimately sold to other aquariums in Japan or overseas to end up in China, the Middle East, and elsewhere.

Sea Shepherd Fleet Receives Marine Conservation Ship Designation by Dominica Registry – A World First

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ROSEAU AUGUST 9TH, 2018 – Sea Shepherd Conservation Society’s vessel M/V BRIGITTE BARDOT has become the third ship in history to obtain registry as a Private Marine Conservation Yacht by the Dominica Maritime Registry (the other two being the group’s ships M/V John Paul DeJoria and M/V Sharpie.)

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Today, while anchored in the roadstead anchorage in front of Roseau, Dominica, the vessel’s new home port, Dominica MP Denise Charles officially raised the Brigitte Bardot’s flag, which bears the image of the island’s national bird, the Imperial Amazon Parrot.  Found only on the island of Dominica, the parrot, also known as the Sisserou, symbolizes biodiversity, resilience and environmental awareness.

While ships are routinely designated as private yachts, commercial yachts and other similar titles, Dominica’s certificate of registry lists the M/V Brigitte Bardot as a private marine conservation yacht, reflecting the anti-poaching organization’s unique work in defending, conserving and protecting the world’s oceans.

“It was a great honour indeed to have Dominica MP Denise Charles on board to raise the Dominica flag on the Brigitte Bardot,” said Locky Maclean, the group’s Ship Operations Director.

The dedication ceremony comes on the heels of Sea Shepherd’s successful Operation Jairo Caribbean, protecting nesting sea turtles in Antigua and Barbuda.

“Registering the vessel to Dominica was a natural decision for Sea Shepherd as we formed a close relationship with the island a year ago during our Hurricane Irma and Maria relief effort, Operation Good Pirates of the Caribbean”.  Added Maclean, “Sea Shepherd would like to thank Minister for Tourism Robert Tonge, MP Denise Charles, Gilda and Arthlyn Nesty, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt, and all our friends in Dominica as well as the Dominica registry for supporting our marine conservation efforts and granting us the privilege to fly her national flag.”