EXCLUSIVE: Oceans of love for marine conservation
Local NSRI stalwart volunteers on Sea Shepherd patrols
RICHARDS Bay NSRI Station 19 coxswain Werner Smit is playing his part in international conservation as he spends eight months on board a Sea Shepherd patrol vessel.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society monitors international waters for violations of international fisheries agreements.
Werner volunteered in December to join the ‘M/V Farley Mowat’ on a campaign to San Felipe off the Sea of Cortez in Mexico.
According to local Sea Rescue communications official Brynn Gericke, who is in regular contact with Werner, the crew was aiding the fight to save the Vaquita marina porpoise off the upper Gulf of California.
The latter is near extinction, as they estimate that there are only 30 left. These porpoise are only found in this area and do not survive in captivity.
Read the full story in the ZO Weekender!
