NEWS RELEASE, December 2012
Sea Shepherd vessel the Brigitte Bardot in Auckland
December 10 will be the first time in 10 years that a Sea Shepherd vessel has visited Auckland and will be at the
Viaduct – Hobson West Marina (between the Maritime Museum and the Floating Pavilion). Sea Shepherd’s 2012-2013 Southern
Ocean campaign Operation Zero Tolerance will be the strongest fleet in the history of Sea Shepherd to prevent whaling in
International Whaling Commission protected waters. About 2/3 of New Zealand is within the Southern Ocean territory. This
campaign is our biggest yet and we will be supported by four boats, four captains, crewed by over 120 committed
conservationists from more than 23 nations, assisted by UAV drones, a helicopter, small boats, new tactics and 1000’s of
supporters.
The monohull trimaran the Brigitte Bardot will be docking in at Auckland after our Southern Pacific shark campaign
before joining the Sea Shepherd fleet to protect targeted fin and minke whale populations. Sea Shepherd has a successful
history of conservation with an excess of 3600 whales have been saved during the past eight campaigns. The whale kill
diminishes each year and is attributable to Sea Shepherd direct action whereby “we must permanently end illegal whaling
in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary” according to Captain Sid Chakravarty of the flagship vessel the Steve Irwin.