Whale Wars Interview

Have you ever wondered just what it would be like to try to stop a whaling ship?  Whale Wars, the riveting documentary reality show, currently in its second season on Animal Planet, takes viewers behind the scenes of the high-adrenaline, and often extremely dangerous, anti-whaling campaigns of Captain Paul Watson and the Sea Shepherd crew.

Shannon Mann, a Canadian Sea Shepherd crew-member,  has spent several seasons defending whales on the high seas. We caught up with Shannon to ask her a few questions about life on the Sea Shepherd and just how did a gal from the Prairies end up defending whales on the world's most notorious anti-whaling ship. 

How did you end up on the Sea Shepherd?

Growing up on the Prairies, I spent a lot of summer days exploring the northern forests and developed a strong connection with the environment.  I feel I’ve always had strong empathy for animals and sensitivity to the injustices endured by animals at the hands of humans.  When I discovered Sea Shepherd, I found a family, a group of people who shared similar interests and goals. I’ve now spent the majority of the past three years volunteering for Sea Shepherd, fighting full time for the causes I have so much passion for.

What do your friends and family back home think of your eco-adventures?

Many of my friends are thrilled by the stories of adventure, the pictures of the pristine Antarctic and the unbelievable experiences that come with being a Sea Shepherd crew member.  I don’t know how many times I’ve heard ‘I wish I could do that…’ or “I would love to do that’. My response is always ‘you can!’ Anyone can do what I have done. I don’t necessarily have any special skills or talent, just passion and a strong drive to do all I can to facilitate change.  My poor mother on the other hand, endures many sleepless nights when I'm at sea.

Were you recruited for the show or to be part of the crew?

I was accepted as a crew member in 2006, before Animal Planet and Sea Shepherd started negotiations. My first Antarctic campaign was the 2006/2007 season, of which a small film crew made the documentary ‘At the Edge of the World’.  I have to say; I was very camera shy back then and am only slightly less so now.

What is your job on the Sea Shepherd?

I’ve worked in three of the four departments on the ship… bridge, deck and galley. During the last campaign, I worked in both the galley and on bridge each day.

Were you involved in the direct confrontations with the whaling ships?

I knew I was on the ship to save whales, and to expect direct confrontation for my efforts on each Sea Shepherd Campaign. Anything less and I would have been disappointed. On my first Antarctic campaign I was on board the Robert Hunter when we collided with the Keiko Maru.  In 2007/08 I volunteered to board one of the Japanese whaling vessels and in 2008/09 I was part of the team that launched our home-brewed version of non- toxic, organic, biodegradable, biochemical warfare. We pelted their decks with this rancid butter— the smell is really terrible and makes it utterly unbearable for the whalers to work!

What has the experience been like? Is it as dramatic as it looks on TV?

There is no doubt that being on the ship is as dramatic as on TV.  The camera can’t possibly capture everything…

Can you describe a typical day at sea?

I was the only person on the ship fortunate enough to have two jobs last year. I enjoyed cooking in the galley for the first half of the day with Laura.  We would wake up around 6:15, make breakfast, clean the galley, take a coffee break, exchange some quick gossip in the dry stores and then start making lunch.  After lunch was out and the dishes were done, often times we had only a short break before we started preparing dinner. I left the galley early to head up to the bridge for a 4-8pm bridge watch.  In calm seas (so the chips would stay on the table) we often filled our evenings playing poker with the Captain!

What were some of the highlights of your time on the Sea Shepherd?

There are so many campaigns to be proud of…pulling in illegal long lines in the Galapagos, numerous trips to the Antarctic protecting the whales and being arrested by my own government for witnessing the massacre of the baby seals on Canada’s eastern coast all are particularly memorable.

What were some of the low points?

I’d say being seriously injured in the Antarctic gave me a new appreciation for the utter remoteness of that environment.

Did you ever get seasick?

Almost every time I go to sea, I am seasick for the first few days.  It’s the most vile, debilitating sickness I’ve ever experienced.  We joke there are three stages of sea sickness: first you fear you will be sick, then you fear you will die, and finally you’re afraid you’ll survive.

What are those Long Range Acoustical Devices (LRADs) devices like on your ears? What other tactics do the whaling ships use to deter the Sea Shepherd crew?

I haven’t experienced LRAD systems first hand. Last year the Japanese whalers used powerful water cannons to injure crew members. Additionally, they threw golf balls and massive metal objects directly at our crew to inflict injuries. We are in a difficult position because we have to take special care not to injure anyone but if the Japanese whalers injure us, the government of Japan will rationalize and defend their actions.

What was it like filming a reality show while trying to stop the whaling?

The camera crew try to be as unobtrusive as possible but at first it's quite intimidating having cameras rolling all of the time.  Eventually you get used to it and by the end of the campaign they sort of blend into the woodwork.

Were the cameras on 24/7? Was it hard to get privacy?

It’s not difficult to get privacy; you can always head to your cabin or into the dry food stores!

How has this experience changed you?

Paul Watson has been an extraordinary influence on me; he is the consummate example of the raw power one human has to make a difference in the world. He fosters the unique skill set of every individual and is extremely supportive of the efforts each crew member makes.

What do you think people need to know about whaling?

Whaling to me is simply murder. If we can’t rally the citizens of the globe to stop whaling I have little hope for lesser loved species like sharks and blue fin tuna. My concern, however, extends beyond just ending whaling. Rather, it is the total destruction, depletion and death of the sea. I fear I will experience the global collapse of the oceans during my lifetime. Biodiversity provides a good measurement of the health of the Earth and we have entered another great extinction. It will take an enormous increase in awareness and consciousness from all nations, from all individuals, to stop the destruction of the planet.

What does the future hold for you?

I intend to use the rest of my life to fight for those that can't fight for themselves: the exploited, the vulnerable and the voiceless. The Sea Shepherd will always be a part of my soul but my heart is also with the dolphins slaughtered off of Taiji (Japan), the animals that suffer through the fur trade, those that are euthanized in shelters and others endangered by human activity.

It's both emotionally exhausting and powerfully inspiring to experience firsthand the difference a single person can make.
—Shannon Mann

Anything you would like to add?

The power of one person is staggering. People should never underestimate their own ability to change the things that haunt them.

You don't necessarily need to give up your job to volunteer in treacherous ocean conditions - but you can choose not to support industries that abuse animals. Something as simple as checking labels to ensure a product is not tested on animals will help.  Educate yourself with books and other sources, you’ll be surprised at what you learn. Every life is worth saving. Every animal is worth cherishing.

Whale Wars Season 2 is on Animal Planet Fridays at 9pm.

Visit: http://animal.discovery.com/tv/whale-wars/

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