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I thought you all were dedicated to protecting sea life and not eating it! You are celebrating the death of these amazing creatures for unnecessary meals. As Greenpeace, you should set an example with a sustainable, plant based diet, not one that continues to eat marine life into extinction.

This blows me away... and not in a good way. Aren't the Esperanza and the Arctic Sunrise in the middle of a "Save our Oceans" campaign? The seas are in shock, and overfishing--along with the practices used to obtain commercial catch--is one of the primary reasons behind it. I'm curious how partaking in a 'seafood feast' seems like a good idea amidst the campaign you're on. Is this just a job for that crew or is it something that you're actually dedicated to? There is good in what Greenpeace does, but the majority of it seems to be limited to papers and studies and lobbying. When the crews of the boats themselves--the so-called "direct action" arm of the organization--participate in the very problem itself, what does that say?

As a direct-action veteran of marine conservation campaigns--and having met and talked to crews from both the Espie and the Sunrise both at sea and in port, all I can say is that I'm incredibly disapointed in this.

Reply from Janet Cotter, Greenpeace Scientiest:

Dear Supporters,

I understand your concern about Greenpeace crew following/not following Greenpeace goals in their own behaviour. Greenpeace is not opposed to eating all seafood, but to seafood that comes from destructive methods af fishing.
All the seafood offered at the welcome in Donsol was caught by local fishermen using traditional, artesanal fishing methods that take only sustainable amounts out of the sea. Providing extraordinary food is a sign of their
hospitality - they would certainly have been very offended if we had not accepted or aprecciated it.
If bying seafood at the supermarket you are absolutely right it has to be labelled as from a sustainable source. That is why, on the whole trip of the Esperanza, no bought seafood is served unless we are assured it is from sustainable, artesanal fishing.
I hope that we meet your concerns with this information.
All the best and thank you once again for your enquiry,

Janet Cotter
Greenpeace Scientiest

"I wouldn't eat a grouper any more than I'd eat a cocker spaniel. They're so good-natured, so curious. You know fish are sensitive, they have personalities, they hurt when they're wounded."
- Dr. Sylvia Earle, one of the world's foremost marine biologists...

I can't help but wonder if Greenpeace would turn down an offer of whale meat by indigenous whaling communities in Greenland - lest they be offended of course. To be honest, I'm actually amazed that Greenpeace is overly concerned with courtesy exhibited by the local Donsul fishermen. I mean Hell - the chance of them becoming paying supporting members is little to none. Since respect for marine wildlife certainly isn't the focus of the Defending "Our" Oceans Campaign, I can only assume that fundraising is.

You don't defend the oceans by cracking open the shell of a thinking, feeling, sentient being; no matter how polite or courteous the people are who strike the blow. Greenpeace became the Big Green Machine that it is today by being controversial and confrontational, not by being polite.