From Chasing Poachers to Catalyzing Systems Change: The Evolution of Sea Shepherd's Approach to Antarctic Conservation
In 2015, Peter Hammarstedt captained a Sea Shepherd ship in a 110-day pursuit of the Antarctic poaching vessel Thunder across three oceans. The chase helped shape Sea Shepherd's evolution from a primary focus on direct confrontation to a broader strategy integrating government partnerships, independent science, and advocacy.
Today, that approach is unfolding in Antarctica, where Dr. Matthew Savoca of Stanfordʼs Hopkins Marine Station leads independent scientists aboard a Sea Shepherd vessel studying whale recovery and its overlap with industrial krill fishing. Sea Shepherd has also taken its campaign ashore, encouraging major retailers to remove krill products from sale.
Drawing on more than two decades at sea, Hammarstedt, now Sea Shepherd Globalʼs Chief Campaigns Officer, will share stories of pursuit, confrontation and unlikely collaboration, exploring how science, enforcement and market action can work together to protect Antarcticaʼs whales and ecosystems.
Free, but registration is required.
