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Captain s Desk Peter Hammarstedt - Captain MV Bob Barker and Global Director Ships Operations For over ten years Sea Shepherd has travelled to remote areas of Antarctica to defend whales from the

Even with the ban on commercial whaling in the 1980 s a number of countries have continued to whale, some are targeting species that are in danger of extinction.

Currently legal fishing operations are taking vast amounts of krill from around Antarctica to use as a food supply for farm animals and in Krill Oil tablets sold by so called health food companies.

Reducing krill supplies could prevent whale populations growing, only with ample food supplies will they remain healthy and have calves.

1 Captain s Desk Peter Hammarstedt - Captain MV Bob Barker and Global Director Ships Operations For over ten years Sea Shepherd has travelled to remote areas of Antarctica to defend whales from the harpoon. Why? because it is important to protect every life. Even with the ban on commercial whaling in the 1980 s a number of countries have continued to whale, some are targeting species that are in danger of extinction. With over 2 million whales killed in Antarctica during the 1900 s it will take many years for whale numbers to recover to healthy populations. Currently legal fishing operations are taking vast amounts of krill from around Antarctica to use as a food supply for farm animals and in Krill Oil tablets sold by so called health food companies. Both are a wasteful use of this valuable food supply, when both have an alternative that could be used. Krill is critical to the survival of whales and other species. Reducing krill supplies could prevent whale populations growing, only with ample food supplies will they remain healthy and have calves. Despite our protecting whales from the harpoon there are still many man-made threats to whales that could threaten their return. From being caught in fishing nets, hit by cargo ships or swallowing ocean pollution there are many dangers they face as they migrate each season. Even within Antarctica there is another growing threat. One critical item required for whale populations to recover is they need a food source and for many that is the krill found off the Antarctic coast during summer. The fight for our oceans is a fight for Life itself To protect the future of whales and the oceans we must ensure that we do not destroy the lives and populations of any marine species. They are all important in the ecosystem of the oceans. 1

Antarctica Pristine Landscape The pristine landscape of Antarctica spans some 14 million square kilometres. That s twice the size of Australia and makes it the 5 th largest continent.

In summer along the coastal areas it can reach between 5c and 15c, which is when krill comes to life and migrating species head to Antarctica to feed.

Antarctic is colder than the Arctic circle as it is higher above sea level and during the Antarctic winter the Earth is farthest away from the sun.

Antarctica has a number of mountain ranges with the highest peak being Vinson Massif at around 4,892m in the Elsworth Mountains.

2 Antarctica Pristine Landscape The pristine landscape of Antarctica spans some 14 million square kilometres. That s twice the size of Australia and makes it the 5 th largest continent. While it is extremely cold with temperatures having been recorded as dropping as low as -89 o c, the average winter temperature is around -63 o c. In summer along the coastal areas it can reach between 5c and 15c, which is when krill comes to life and migrating species head to Antarctica to feed. Very little rain is recorded at the South Pole, less than 10cm per year, oddly making it one of the driest continents. Despite this Antarctica has inland lakes, with around 70 found so far. Antarctic is colder than the Arctic circle as it is higher above sea level and during the Antarctic winter the Earth is farthest away from the sun. East Antarctica is colder than West due to its higher elevation above sea level at some 3,000m. Antarctica has a number of mountain ranges with the highest peak being Vinson Massif at around 4,892m in the Elsworth Mountains. Antarctica is believed to have been part of a super continent that was connected to Africa, India and Australia before it slowly broke apart 170 million years ago, with Australia separating 40 million years ago followed by South America 23 million years ago Antarctic is mainly made up of ice, with only 5% of it being rock mass beneath all that ice. Around 38% is said to be ice walls, which means it rests on ground, another 44% is ice shelf floating on water. Despite its cold climate Antarctica has around 30 volcanoes, mostly dormant but the Mount Erebus volcano on Ross Island is currently the world s most southern active volcano. Antarctica makes up 90% of the world s ice with an average thickness of 1.6km. 2

Campaign Update Operation Apex Harmony This year has seen a number of shark accidents along the eastern coast of Australia, as well as surfing champion Mick Fannings encounter with a shark during a

Often during these times people become scared of sharks and think that they should be killed, but culling shark numbers doesn t really protect anyone.

Drum lines are just long lines of baited hooks used to try and catch sharks.

Queensland has had in place a program of drum lines and shark nets since 1962. In the period 1962 to 2004 over 84,000 marine animals were killed by shark nets.

3 Campaign Update Operation Apex Harmony This year has seen a number of shark accidents along the eastern coast of Australia, as well as surfing champion Mick Fannings encounter with a shark during a competition in South Africa. These areas are all known for the presence of sharks, including Great White Sharks, a threatened species. Often during these times people become scared of sharks and think that they should be killed, but culling shark numbers doesn t really protect anyone. The two most common ways governments have tried to protect humans from sharks is by using shark nets along popular beaches or putting in drum lines. Drum lines are just long lines of baited hooks used to try and catch sharks. Sadly both of these methods have resulted in the deaths of many marine animals and not necessarily protected anyone from sharks. Queensland has had in place a program of drum lines and shark nets since In the period 1962 to 2004 over 84,000 marine animals were killed by shark nets. This included many species of shark that are not a threat to humans such as whale sharks or hammerhead, along with thousands of threatened and protected species such as turtles, dugongs, rays and Humpback whales. Some are critically endangered like the Hawksbill Turtle and Grey Nurse Shark. Did you know more people die each year from being stung by a bee, kicked by a horse or whilst taking a selfie, than from being bitten by a shark. Unlike some other risks, you can protect yourself from being bitten by a shark. Here are some of them to remember, especially if you live an area known to have sharks: Always take note of any warning signs on the beach letting you know sharks are present and listen to the Surf Life Savers instructions. Don t go in the water when sharks are around. Don t swim in the ocean at dawn or dusk, the light makes it easier for sharks to see what is on the surface, so it is the time of day they are known to actively hunt for food. You don t want to be mistaken for a seal or turtle. Be careful when seals and dolphins are present in the water, they may attract sharks. Don t swim in areas where people are fishing, this will attract sharks that are in the area. Avid swimmers and surfers can help reduce the risk of attracting sharks by using new style wet suits and surfboards that aren t as attractive to sharks. While many people are scared of sharks there are many more things that we should be scared of than being killed by a shark. More details on the results of Queensland Shark Control Program can be found at ws qld-shark-control-program html 3

Operation Henkaku Nearly everyone loves to see dolphins swimming in the ocean, leaping out of the water and riding the waves, watching as a pod swims together as a family, travelling along the coast

They protect their family, look after the young and grieve when they lose a baby, just as we would.

4 Operation Henkaku Nearly everyone loves to see dolphins swimming in the ocean, leaping out of the water and riding the waves, watching as a pod swims together as a family, travelling along the coast hunting for food. Dolphins are extremely intelligent beings and have strong emotional bonds with each other. They protect their family, look after the young and grieve when they lose a baby, just as we would. Our love and fascination with dolphins is what led to the creation of marine parks or aquariums, where dolphins perform for our entertainment. They are taught how to do all kinds of tricks like jumping through hoops or letting a trainer ride on their back. In captivity they no longer have their family, instead they share a pool with dolphins from other family groups. Each pod has its own language, so it s like visiting a foreign country and not knowing the language to communication with other people. The pools they are kept in are small compared to the oceans they travel in out in the wild. They spend their days swimming in circles, with concrete walls that prevent sound travelling. No waves to ride or ocean current to follow. The cruelest part is that to make dolphins perform tricks they are not fed during the day, so to receive food they must perform tricks properly. If they don t they don t receive a fish. Only at the end of the day are they properly given food. Captivity is not a happy place for dolphins, their home is in the ocean with their families. One campaign that Sea Shepherd runs to highlight the issue of captivity is in Taiji, Japan, here the fisherman make a lot of money for capturing the dolphins and selling them to the marine parks. Between September and March each year pods of dolphins are chased into the Taiji cove where the young and beautiful looking dolphins are taken from their families to be trained for captivity. The fishermen will often kill the rest of the pod to be sold as meat to the locals. With their smiling faces it all looks like lots of fun and that the dolphins are happy, but sadly for the dolphins, whether it is a Bottlenose or an Orca, captivity is not a happy place for them. To find their way to an aquarium they must first be taken from the ocean, which means they are separated from their family. A traumatic experience for them and the pod they leave behind especially as many of them are young. But there are many more reasons this is a sad and unhealthy place for them. In the wild, dolphins travel long distances each day to hunt for food. They swim freely catching the food they need to survive by using their internal sonar (echolocation) to find them. Sound plays a big part in their lives for communication with each other, for hunting and detecting predators. Without a market for the captive dolphins these dolphin hunts would not take place. That s why we need to say no to captivity and not support these parks, shows and dolphinariums, as by doing so we help the dolphins live where they belong in their ocean home. Life is very different in captivity; they must learn to eat dead fish, which is dry compared to fresh fish. Dolphins don t drink they get the fluids they need to keep them hydrated from the fish they eat. 4

Protecting our Oceans Become an Ocean Protector We all enjoy the beach, especially during the summer months, nice sandy beaches to walk on and a clean ocean to swim in and cool down from the heat.

When visiting someone else s home we need to treat it with respect and not leave behind a mess, but many people who visit the beach treat it as a dumping ground and leave behind their rubbish.

It s important to make sure you always take your rubbish home with you and if you want to help the environment spend a bit of time picking up other peoples rubbish before you go.

5 Protecting our Oceans Become an Ocean Protector We all enjoy the beach, especially during the summer months, nice sandy beaches to walk on and a clean ocean to swim in and cool down from the heat. But It s important when visiting the beach to remember it is also home to many native residents from the local sea birds to marine life hiding under the surface and jetties. When visiting someone else s home we need to treat it with respect and not leave behind a mess, but many people who visit the beach treat it as a dumping ground and leave behind their rubbish. Rubbish that will end up blowing into the ocean or in the stomachs of unsuspecting marine birds and animals. Much of it is made from toxic materials that are poisoning our oceans and marine life. It s important to make sure you always take your rubbish home with you and if you want to help the environment spend a bit of time picking up other peoples rubbish before you go. Help save marine life from possible death. Cigarette butts They can contain up to 4,000 different chemicals and can take up to 5 years to breakdown. Wildlife mistake it for food and eat the toxic material, It takes one hour to start to breakdown once it hits the ocean and starts to leach toxins into the ocean. Even on the cleanest looking beaches you can find these everywhere in the sand. Fishing line and hooks Often left behind by fisherman on the beach or jetty. Off cuts of tangled lines left behind, still with hooks intact, get caught on seabirds and marine life. Jetties also seem to be a great dumping ground for people, with all kinds of things found in the depths beneath them, like street signs. Sea Shepherd Adelaide runs beach clean ups every few months at different beaches just for this reason, to help raise awareness of the issue and protect the local inhabitants. No matter where we go there are nearly always the same items that can be found. Single use plastic products From straws, balloons, bags, takeaway and drink containers. Plastics contain chemicals that are toxic. They may breakdown into smaller pieces but are still plastic and will release chemicals Small pieces will be eaten by fish, fish you may end up eating. Remember to do your bit for the local marine environment and keep beaches clean. Join Sea Shepherd Adelaide s Beach Clean Up Crew and help us protect marine life from harm. Always remember to Refuse - Reuse - Recycle For Our Oceans 5

Quick Facts Dolphins The Maui s dolphin found off the west coast of New Zealand s North Island. At 1.7m it is the smallest of the dolphin species and also one of the rarest.

Their numbers have been reduced due to net fishing in the area, where they become trapped in the nets and drowned. The largest dolphin species is the Orca at up to 9m.

Their name Killer Whale was originally whale killer, as they are one of the few species that will take on whales. Did you know a dolphin s brain is bigger than a human s!

6 Quick Facts Dolphins The Maui s dolphin found off the west coast of New Zealand s North Island. At 1.7m it is the smallest of the dolphin species and also one of the rarest. The species has less than 100 left, with estimates several years ago putting the population at just 55. Their numbers have been reduced due to net fishing in the area, where they become trapped in the nets and drowned. The largest dolphin species is the Orca at up to 9m. Orca s are an apex predator and will attack other dolphins, sharks and even whales. Their name Killer Whale was originally whale killer, as they are one of the few species that will take on whales. Did you know a dolphin s brain is bigger than a human s!. Parts of their brain are more developed than ours. They are highly intelligent and sensitive beings. Dolphin Human Saving Dolphins How can you help protect dolphins? Keep our beaches clean of rubbish, so it doesn t end up in the ocean for them to eat. Don t support captivity keep dolphins in their ocean home not in marine parks and aquariums. 6

Schools & Competition News Sea Shepherd Adelaide runs a schools education program, with a

and what everyone can do to help. Contact Adelaide@seashepherd.org.au for more information.

interest in our Oceans! Sea Shepherd Australia www.seashepherd.org.au Australia@seashepherd.

7 Schools & Competition News Sea Shepherd Adelaide runs a schools education program, with a range of presentations on different marine species, the ways we are destroying our oceans and what everyone can do to help. Contact Adelaide@seashepherd.org.au for more information. Sea Shepherd Adelaide crew recently had the privilege of visiting 1 st Ingle Farm Scout Group and 3 rd Goodwood Scout Group. Thank you to the scouts that attended our talks on marine conservation and for taking an interest in our Oceans! Sea Shepherd Australia Australia@seashepherd.org.au Sea Shepherd Adelaide Adelaide@seashepherd.org.au 7

8 Colour me in and send a copy or photo to Adelaide@seashepherd.org.au 8

protect people by culling sharks?

THE BIG DEBATE: Is it right to protect people by culling sharks? opinion When there are more effective measures to protect both surfers and marine life, politicians must stop reverting to ineffective culling