1970s
founded on direct action
In 1977, Paul Watson and Robert Hunter left Greenpeace to create Earthforce, soon renamed Sea Shepherd. They believed the oceans needed direct defense, not just words. Within two years, the first ship was launched and outlaw whalers were confronted at sea.
- Founded Earthforce as a bolder alternative to traditional conservation.
- Acquired the first Sea Shepherd vessel to protect marine wildlife.
- Confronted a notorious pirate whaling operation, ending its illegal hunts.
- Put illegal whaling on the world stage and inspired stronger protection laws.
1980s
expansion at sea
Under Captain Paul Watson’s leadership, Sea Shepherd grew rapidly. Crews shut down pirate whalers, defended seals, and pioneered campaigns against destructive driftnet fleets across the Pacific.
- Ended major pirate whaling by scuttling illegal ships.
- Expanded seal defense, helping secure import bans.
- Pioneered anti-driftnet actions that led to a global high-seas ban.
- Began long-term work in the Faroe Islands and laid roots in Galápagos.
1990s
partnerships & enforcement
Sea Shepherd began working directly with governments and Indigenous communities. Anti-driftnet victories shaped UN policy, while a landmark partnership in the Galápagos Marine Reserve started decades of on-water enforcement.
- Helped enforce the U.N. driftnet moratorium through direct interventions.
- Partnered with communities to defend wild salmon and sacred waters.
- Established official patrols in the Galápagos Marine Reserve.
- Grew the fleet for longer, more coordinated campaigns.
2000s
southern ocean & global reach
Multi-ship campaigns in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary stopped illegal whaling fleets. The TV series Whale Wars brought Sea Shepherd’s mission to millions and inspired a new generation of ocean defenders.
- Blocked whaling fleets in Antarctica, saving thousands of whales.
- Exposed illegal shark-finning and supported regional crackdowns.
- Added iconic ships like the Steve Irwin and Bob Barker.
- Reached millions through Whale Wars and grew worldwide support.
2010s
from antarctica to vaquita
Southern Ocean successes continued while Operation Milagro created a permanent presence in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez to confront illegal totoaba poaching and protect the critically endangered vaquita porpoise.
- Forced whaling fleets to miss quotas year after year.
- Launched Operation Milagro for year-round vaquita defense.
- Used fast cutters to remove deadly gillnets at sea.
- Raised global awareness through films like Sea of Shadows.
2020s
government-backed marine defense
Sea Shepherd now operates 24/7 alongside navies in Mexico’s Vaquita Refuge and Scorpion Reef. New partnerships in Greece, Antarctica, and the Faroe Islands combine direct action with official enforcement.
- Authorized 24/7 patrols with the Mexican Navy in the Vaquita Refuge.
- Deploy Seahorse and Navy-operated Seahawk to stop poachers.
- Run net-destruction and recycling programs to clear the oceans.
- Expand science and patrols to Guadalupe, Revillagigedo, and beyond.
Our Sole Mission
Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is an international non-profit dedicated to ending the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans. We use innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and confront illegal activities on the high seas, protecting ecosystems and species for future generations.
No compromise in defense of marine life.
EARLY YEARS AT SEA
Direct Action From the Start
Sea Shepherd began in 1977 when a small group of conservation-minded crew
believed the oceans needed direct defense.
Their first missions disrupted the commercial killing of newborn harp seals
by marking pups with indelible organic dye so their fur could not be sold.
Taking On Pirate Whalers
Those early voyages quickly moved from protest to enforcement style action.
Sea Shepherd crews tracked notorious pirate whaling ships, exposed their
illegal operations, and put vessels out of business, helping end some of the
worst industrial whaling in the North Atlantic.
Expanding the Frontlines
Through the early 1980s, new ships and volunteers carried that work to
the ice floes of Eastern Canada, the North Pacific, and coastal waters in
Europe and Japan, documenting illegal whaling, disrupting dolphin hunts,
and challenging seal and marine mammal kills that were largely hidden
from public view.
From Rogue Crews to Official Partners
Today, the same frontline ethos continues with a modern strategy built
for lasting impact. Sea Shepherd now works directly with national
governments, environmental agencies, coast guards, and navies—providing
ships, trained crews, and technology to help enforce conservation laws
where resources are stretched thin. These joint operations have reduced
illegal fishing in key habitats and turned what began as a handful of
volunteer crews into a lasting, institutional force for marine protection,
with our sole mission to protect and conserve the world’s oceans and
marine wildlife from illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing—from
whales and dolphins to sharks, rays, fish, and even krill.
Explore Our Campaigns
The People and Ships Behind the Mission
Meet the captains, crews, and leadership teams protecting marine wildlife, and see the fleet that carries our campaigns across the world’s oceans.
