Not only is Libby an experienced whale watcher, with over 20 years experience whale watching in the South Pacific, but this is her fifth whale survey with Greenpeace. In fact, two of them have been on the Rainbow Warrior. Libby has also done surveys in the Indian Ocean whale sanctuary, and has documented the environmental and human-induced threats to marine life. Her Indian Ocean surveys were submitted to the IWC.

Our whale survey is being conducted without equipment (other than binoculars and very warm jackets, because it can get freezing up there). We have four observers working at any one time, on shifts of 2 hours on, 2 hours off. We are also working in all weather. Usually, whale surveys stop when it gets above Beauford scale Force 4 (to give you an idea of the weather we work in, the photo I posted the other day was of Libby whale watching in Force 9! And it was snowing to boot.) This is because the time we have is quite short, scientifically speaking, and we need to make the most of it.

Libby says she would have expected to see more marine animals so far. We saw what we believe were 4 Finless Porpoises, 1 minke whale and some dolphins in over a week at sea.