From a young age it was a dream of mine to visit Antarctica, and in 2012 my wish was granted as I sailed with Sea Shepherd to the Southern Ocean to document their efforts in protecting the whales of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.
This special area was being taken advantage of through various geo-political and enforcement loopholes, and each Southern Summer saw the Japanese Whaling Fleet venture South with the aim of killing 1035 whales.
Sea Shepherd - an organisation founded in 1977 - would send a fleet of ships each year to confront and interfere with these illegal whaling operations. These campaigns were highly effective, ensuring that the media spotlight was kept on the whaling operations whilst saving thousands of whales from an aganosing death at the end of an explosive harpoon.
My role between 2012 and 2014 was to serve as the head of Sea Shepherd’s in-house media production team, creating and distributing content from the ships at sea to a global audience.
In 2015 - thanks to the work of Sea Shepherd as well as the diplomatic efforts of a few countries - the International Court Of Justice confirmed that the whaling activities in Antarctica were indeed illegal, and since then, the whales of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary have been able to swim freely.
There is no place quite like Antarctica, and the waters that surround the continent are full of life and beauty. A place I truly believe should be left alone to let nature do its thing.
