To help report destructive and illegal fishing practices, non-profit marine conservation organisation Sea Shepherd Global has four of its nine current vessels subscribed to its maritime communications service Fleet Xpress. This includes Allankay, a 55-metre-long former toothfish longliner deployed to Sea Shepherd’s latest campaign, Operation Antarctica Defence.
According to Sea Shepherd, through Operation Antarctica Defence, it is shining a spotlight on krill fishing.
While legal, this practice is causing significant damage to Antarctica’s fragile ecosystem, the organisation said.
In Operation Antarctica Defence, as in other campaigns, the camera is Sea Shepherd’s weapon. Whether drawing attention to legal yet destructive activities or exposing illegal fishing practices that justify arrests, the ability to “catch vessels in the act” and quickly share photographic evidence is key, Sea Shepherd Head of Fleet Communications David Wilson said.
“We require the capabilities to communicate with law enforcement in different jurisdictions and send out media releases as soon as possible to keep the public informed,” Wilson explained. “We also need to track vessels in real time and quickly adopt tactics to catch them in the act – because without showing the world what’s happening or sending evidence to the relevant authorities, we wouldn’t be able to effect positive change.”
With the global coverage of Fleet Xpress, powered by Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Ka-band & ELERA L-band networks, Sea Shepherd maintains mission-critical connectivity even in remote and inhospitable locations like the Southern Ocean.
Sea Shepherd also uses Fleet Xpress for video conferencing, with Wilson referring to a recent case in which the organisation’s Director of Campaigns, Peter Hammarstedt, virtually attended the World Ocean Summit & Expo 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal, from onboard a vessel operating in Antarctica.
Inmarsat Maritime said it takes pride in facilitating the decarbonisation initiatives of some of the world’s leading shipping and offshore companies but added that the rare opportunity to collaborate with non-profit organisations dedicated to environmental protection is a particular privilege.
Eric Talman, Director of Product and Solutions at Connecta Satellite Solutions, an Inmarsat Maritime partner, commented: “We serve companies worldwide in all kinds of industries, but nothing is more rewarding – or important – than supporting environmental conservation efforts. The deterioration of the planet and its wildlife is happening right before our eyes, so the value of groups like Sea Shepherd cannot be overstated. They make a real difference, and it’s an honour to assist them in any way we can.”
Christian Cordoba, Account Manager, Inmarsat Maritime, added: “Previously a FleetBroadband user, Sea Shepherd upgraded to Fleet Xpress in 2017. Throughout this collaboration, Inmarsat Maritime has played an integral role in supporting Sea Shepherd’s campaigns, providing mission-critical connectivity in harsh and isolated environments. For me, witnessing first-hand the positive impact of these campaigns has been a true privilege. We are also grateful to Connecta for its support in delivering our solutions to this unique customer.”
