Portofino & Sea Shepherd

Portofino, the Sea Shepherd’s home, why?

Portofino owes its name to the Dolphins. Pliny the Elder (AD 23 – AD 79) referred to Portus Delphini (Port of the Dolphins) a little bay between Genoa and the Gulf of Tigullio with a great number of dolphins that populated its sea. For us they are everything. They fill us with joy and pride. In our bay, we do everything to protect and leave them free to live as they prefer. However, there is a need in the Oceans to do much to save these and all the other animals. To do this, there is an organization that wakes up every morning and employs thousands of people around the world in protection and struggle. Portofino runs along this difficult road near Sea Shepherd Italy with President Andrea Morello, with the coordinator Media Eugenio Fogli and with Marina Fenestrelli as Ligurian responsible, with whom we now feel almost every day.

Sea Shepherd guys are arrested in the Faroe Islands to fight the massacre of the Grindadrap. Its ships are rammed into the open sea with – high risk of life – by the Japanese whalers who engage in illegal hunting. His volunteers during the summer sleeping on the beach in Syracuse Italy to allow the Caretta Caretta (Mediterranean turtles) to reach the sea safely, live and arrive, sometimes, to visit us here in our bay.

These guys engage in every corner of the world. They do not make distinctions, they take care of all the animals that live in the Oceans. And for this reason, Portofino owes them a lot. Without Sea Shepherd, we would not have our Dolphins we care so much. There would not be our Whales off San Fruttuoso or the Moon Fish around the Lighthouse, we would not see the Caretta Caretta take air below coast and then dive into the deep blue waters.

We would lose a lot.

For all these reasons we decided to support this amazing organization that has started to be in the heart of Portofino as the Dolphins in our bay.

They deserve all our support!

I Delfini di Portofino 🐬

Sea Shepherd’s Mission Statement

Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) is an international non-profit, marine wildlife conservation organization. Our mission is to end the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world’s oceans in order to conserve and protect ecosystems and species.

Sea Shepherd uses innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and take action when necessary to expose and confront illegal activities on the high seas. By safeguarding the biodiversity of our delicately-balanced ocean ecosystems, Sea Shepherd works to ensure their survival for future generations.

In 1978, with financial support from Cleveland Amory of the Fund for Animals, the Society purchased its first ship (a British sea trawler Westella) and renamed it the Sea Shepherd. Its first mission was to sail to the ice floes of Eastern Canada to interfere with the annual killing of baby harp seals known as whitecoats. In the same year, the Sea Shepherd hunted down and rammed the notorious prolific pirate whaler the Sierra in a Portugal harbor ending its infamous career as the scourge of the seas.

Since those early days, Sea Shepherd has embarked on over 200 voyages covering many of the world’s oceans and defending and saving defenseless marine life all along the way.

History and Timeline of Sea Shepherd

Captain Paul Watson

Paul Watson was born in Toronto, Canada, on December 2, 1950. At six years old, he and his family moved to the lobster fishing town of St. Andrews-by-the-Sea in New Brunswick. The eldest of seven children, Watson lived there until January 1964 when his mother died and his father returned the family to Toronto. His father was Anthony Joseph Watson, a French-Canadian born in New Brunswick, Canada. His mother was Annamarie Larsen, the daughter of a Danish artist Otto Larsen and Canadian Doris Phoebe Clark.

“I have been honored to serve the whales, dolphins, seals – and all the other creatures on this Earth. Their beauty, intelligence, strength, and spirit have inspired me. These beings have spoken to me, touched me, and I have been rewarded by friendship with many members of different species. If the whales survive and flourish, if the seals continue to live and give birth, and if I can contribute to ensuring their future prosperity, I will be forever happy.”

more about Captain Watson

CEO Alex Cornelissen

(Alex Cornelissen, on the left) –“I was working for a publishing house in Amsterdam when I first heard about Sea Shepherd. A friend of mine joined the crew to make a documentary about their work. I was so impressed by the organization that a year later I quit my job, sold my apartment and joined the crew for what was supposed to be a sabbatical. That was 2002 and I am still here”.

You are currently a Captain and CEO at Sea Shepherd. How did your career path evolve within the company?

I first joined the crew in the Galapagos and started as chief cook. In that position, I served on our first-ever campaign against Japanese whaling in the Antarctic. In 2003 I worked my way up to the bridge as the second mate and was promoted the first mate in 2004. After the second Antarctica campaign that ended on February 2006, Captain Watson gave me command of the Farley Mowat, our flagship at the time. Unfortunately, the vessel was held for four months in Capetown under politically motivated detention. My first act as captain was to sail out of the harbor without permission under cover of darkness. Since then I have commanded nearly all vessels in our fleet. At the end of 2007, I moved to the Galapagos Islands where I was in charge of our ongoing campaign for six years. At the end of 2013, I took the role of CEO. I still try to go on the campaign as captain but obviously, that is more difficult these days.

How does a day at work look like at Sea Shepherd?

When I am in Amsterdam, it is non-stop emailing, meetings and calls. When Europe slows down, the US starts and then Australia. Things never really come to a stop for Sea Shepherd Global. Furthermore, I need to make frequent trips all over the world. Having the office in Amsterdam is a lot of fun, we have a great team. Also having the Sea Shepherd Shop is a great way to reach new people that are interested in supporting us.

CEO’s Blog

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