Five Years Ago Today: A Poaching Vessel Goes Down

Five years ago today, the rogue poaching vessel Thunder was scuttled by its own crew after a 110-day high-seas chase by Sea Shepherd as part of Operation Icefish.

At the start of Operation Icefish in 2014, Sea Shepherd set out to locate and shut down illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Antarctica. Infamously named the "Bandit 6", the targets were six illegal poaching vessels known to Interpol and CCAMLR, who had previously managed to evade any law enforcement. Over two campaigns that spanned from 2014 to 2016, Sea Shepherd set the world record for the longest high-seas pursuit of a poaching vessel, removed 72 kilometers of illegal gillnets from the ocean, and successfully shut down all of the Bandit 6 vessels.

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Sea Shepherd is an international, non-profit marine conservation organization that engages in direct action campaigns to defend wildlife and conserve and protect the world’s oceans from illegal exploitation and environmental destruction.

[isaiahlaitinen]

The captain, first mate, and chief engineer were sentenced to 2-6 years in prison, the crew was deported, and the company was fined nearly $50 million. The Viking was seized by Indonesia and destroyed. Two other vessels have been arrested by Cabo Verde and held in port for nearly 6 years, and the final 2 vessels were arrested and confiscated from the companies. Meanwhile, Sea Shepherd has helped track down 3 other toothfish poachers wanted for activities dating back years ago, bringing their total to 9 vessels stopped.

[personazas]

Greetings from Lithuania!!! Nice job, Sea shepherd!!

[cheraxl]

So grateful for Sea Shepherds thankyou all.

[blackadder]

Next ship that has to go down is the Nisshin Maru!

[MRFilmCeritain]

Thunder: "Please Forgive us for illegalfishing...
In return, we will sink our ship and
Turn it into Coral Reef."
Sea Shepherd : "Naah... You Guys are trying to
Turn your evidence into
Coral Reef..."

[Josh]

Wow I didn't think its been that long already!

[deeclark]

Phenomenal work. If only our governments would show such commitment in saving the environment and planet.
Sincere thanks for all you do

[stefaneer]

Sink the Illegal Trawlers. Great thanks for this job after 6 years ago. 💪😏⚓

Greetings from Cologne in Germany.

[Scioneer]

Thunder looked like an old military vessel about Corvette or Frigate size. The bridge in particular reminds me of a Perry Class.

[rhushsnr]

Good to see the growth of an organization dedicated to preserve waters

[orlabewert]

Sea shephers is such an amazing conservation society

[eddieram]

Many of these poaching vessels are owned by Asian companies, which are also huge consumers of seafood.

[xcofcd]

Maybe they wanted at least to have the insurance money instead of the boat getting seized or something like that...

[vituserpenbeck]

Nice, all the effort and exertion were worth it.👍

[tounovtwin]

Where can I watch the documentary??? Anyone know please.

[grejuli]

Is there a way to get remaining nets, oil, fuel and batteries off the ship after it has sunk or do they just go into the ocean?

[Patrick.Edgar.Regini]

@Sea Shepherd . Have you looked into working with whale language experts and developing some kind of recording that will alert whales of imminent danger? There's gotta be some way of scaring them or alerting them ... or some way of teaching them to know some ships are dangerous to them. It would be so great! and save you guys so much trouble and work. A total game changer!! I hope you get this message or that somehow someone gets it to you.

[michaeledgerton-stevenson]

Good job guys, keep it up . Respect from the U.K 👍🏻

[brittenv]

You guys do great. I cant see how humans can kill like that!

[CVS]

Don't never take mother nature by a granted. Take what you can from sea. take more, she will take back all your earnings and cost of the hard work you put in. Respect the ocean floors and mother nature. Lesson learn of how not to be greedy. 💯