News / Environmentalists raise $300,000
SEA SHEPHERD supporters have raised as much as $300,000 during the last 24 hours to help free the conservation society’s flagship Steve Irwin, currently detained in Lerwick Harbour.
The radical environmentalists had planned to leave Shetland to interrupt the annual Faroese pilot whale grind, but were served with a court order on Friday after the Maltese fishing company Fish & Fish brought a civil lawsuit in the British courts.
The company said the Sea Shepherd had caused damages of 1 million euros when the Steve Irwin rammed a fish pen off the Libyan coast in June last year freeing 600 bluefin tuna.
Sea Shepherd has now to deposit a bond of 1 million euros, or $1.4 million, to be able to leave Shetland.
On Thursday, Sea Shepherd president Paul Watson expressed his frustration with the speed the British court system works.
He said the organisation had no problem depositing the $1.4 million imposed, but he had not been told how this should be done.
“We still don’t have an answer from the court in Aberdeen as to what the exact bond is and where to post it. We could post it immediately.
“We have raised about $300,000 in the last 24 hours, and that is money to cover the line of credit we have in place.”
“It seems the system penalises you even before you get to court,” he said.
He added that the organisation plans to leave Lerwick as soon as the bond has been accepted to join the Brigitte Bardot, Sea Shepherd’s other vessel, which currently “patrols” Faroese waters.
Mr Watson said the vessel had cleared customs and immigration in Torshavn and had recruited two Faroese campaigners on board.
“We seem to have a bit of a support base up there. We also showed the film Confessions of an Eco-Terrorist in Torshavn on Wednesday night and quite a few people came,” he said.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 630 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.