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  • Respect and protect.

    Commercially harvested openly in places, and killed under the guise of research in others - the giants of the oceans are awe-inspiring even in pictures. They are not alone in being pursued by hunters though.

    Legal hunting seasons, abuse of indigenous hunting rights, by-catch and poaching for profit - these all lead to the deaths of thousands of sea turtles, dugongs, rays and seals. It’s no longer acceptable to sit back and do nothing whether we live near an ocean or miles inland. The oceans’ problems are our problems. In order to survive, we need to respect and protect them and the marine life that depends on them as much as we do. It's time to stop talking and start doing.

  • Marine conservation - uniting people all over the world.

    Things have changed. Now it’s the sharks that should be afraid to be in the water. Top of the food chain, apex predators, crucial to the ocean’s eco-system, and yet 100 million are killed each year, 73 million for their fins alone.

    Marine conservation is uniting people all over the world. With an almost tribal urge, the sense of belonging and personal contribution is strong; people are willing to sacrifice much more in support of their tribe than ever before.

  • Power and strength in numbers.

    The oceans cover over 70% of the earth’s surface, and provide us with half the oxygen we need to breathe. From industry waste and emissions to throwing away a single plastic bottle that will leave its mark for ever, and from the great ocean garbage patches to toxic fish and marine mammals, we are all responsible for the state it’s in today. The scale of the problems is vast, but there is power and strength in numbers. Add you voice to ours and we will do amazing things together.

  • Achieve amazing things for dolphins.

    Find someone who doesn’t love dolphins, and you’ll be eye to eye with one of the people who still hunts them, drives them into coves to be killed for food, or equally senselessly, captures and sells them for entertainment. Our tribe is young, but together we can grow a powerful, global marine conservation movement that can and will achieve amazing things for dolphins and other marine life. We salute the numerous other tribes that have been battling to save the oceans for many years. We look forward to fighting alongside them.

Videos

Shark Stanley

Video blog from Pete Bethune about the Shark Stanley campaign that Earthrace is supporting, started by www.sharkdefenders.com. A great way for people to join in an action from home and pressure CITES into increasing protecting for our manta rays and sharks.

Operation Redneckery

Covert Surveillance mission around Banks Peninsula. Vessels fish inside a marine mammal sanctuary that is supposed to protect the last of the endangered Hectors Dolphin. Read more about the endangered Hector's and Maui's http://www.earthraceconservation.org/node/329

The Giga Swing

The swing from hell. Slung between 2 big pines trees and winched up a third tree. One of the coolest swings you'll ever see... and not for the faint hearted.

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News

Pete Bethune and Sea Shepherd Settle Long Running Legal Dispute

14 May, 2013

ISSUED FROM AUCKLAND, New Zealand and FRIDAY HARBOR, Washington State

Pete Bethune, founder of Earthrace Conservation, and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, have reached an agreement following arbitration in their long-running legal dispute. The agreement, which involved a financial settlement to Bethune, also provided that he will assist Sea Shepherd to help ensure Paul Watson is not extradited to Japan.

Pete Bethune and Sea Shepherd Settle Long Running Legal Dispute

AUCKLAND, New Zealand and FRIDAY HARBOR, Washington State

Pete Bethune, founder of Earthrace Conservation, and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, have reached an agreement following arbitration in their long-running legal dispute. The agreement, which involved a financial settlement to Bethune, also provided that he will assist Sea Shepherd to help ensure Paul Watson is not extradited to Japan.

CONSERVATION COALITION TURNS UP THE HEAT ON AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

24 April 2013 – for immediate release

CONSERVATION COALITION TURNS UP THE HEAT ON AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT

Earthrace Conservation has joined forces with Bob Irwin and his new coalition once again in a campaign for greater protection of Australia’s wildlife.

The Bob Irwin Wildlife & Conservation Foundation has formed a coalition of animal welfare groups, including Earthrace, which is calling on the Australian government to introduce an immediate ban all hunting by anyone of any animal, land or marine based, listed as endangered or vulnerable.

PETE BETHUNE PAUAS UP

For immediate release: Tuesday 16 April 2013

PETE BETHUNE PAUAS UP

Pete Bethune, founder of Earthrace Conservation, has dived into the growing storm of opposition against commercial exploitation of previously protected areas for the increasingly threatened stocks of paua (abalone) in the waters off New Zealand’s South Island.

The NZ Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) is reviewing whether to allow commercial harvesting of Paua in currently prohibited areas along the quota management area (PAU 5D) taking in the coastline of Otago and Southland.

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Blog

MY PAUA TRIP

A wave rolls in behind and pushes me up a rocky shelf. I grab a ledge and haul myself up, dragging the heavy catch bag behind me.

I look over at my twin brother Bazza who is already squeezing out of his wetsuit. “You been eating too many pies bro”, I say to him cheekily, as he drags the top up and over his belly.

He smiles. He normally brings out a barb about me being too skinny, but he lets it slide.

Animal Activist vs Conservationist

S Dale Bowman, Operations Director, Earthrace Conservation.

Whale Warrior - The Movie

by Pete Bethune on Tuesday, 27 November 2012 at 20:52

“I’d like to buy the movie rights to your book Whale Warrior”, Andrew says to me, as he hands over a glass of Bollinger champagne. I take a sip, and the liquid is dry and rich, as I swirl it around my mouth.

“Now why would you wanna do that”, I reply finally.

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