Captain Alex Cornelissen in conversation with Arav Gupta

Sunday Papers Live - Environment Section

Our oceans and its inhabitants are dying from overfishing and habitat destruction. Poachers plunder marine life sanctuaries with impunity, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing goes unchecked in the high seas far from public scrutiny.

Captain Alex Cornelissen is the CEO of Sea Shepherd, an international, non-profit marine conservation organisation that engages in direct action campaigns to defend wildlife, and conserve and protect the world’s ocean from illegal exploitation and environmental destruction. 

Since its grassroots beginnings in 1977, Sea Shepherd has grown into an unstoppable global movement with independent groups established in over 20 countries.

Captain Alex has participated in more than 25 Sea Shepherd campaigns, including five trips down to the Antarctic to stop the Japanese whale poachers and will regale us with some tales from these dangerous trips and why he believes that not just direct action but also working with local governments helps to enforce the laws protecting our oceans.