NORTH Van resident Tommy Knowles' passion for protecting marine life is so strong that he is willing to risk his life.
As a navigator and deckhand on board the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's flagship Steve Irwin, Knowles, 22, has no issue putting himself in front of illegal whalers.
"I believe the fight of the ocean is one of the most important issues facing humanity right now, with the destruction that is being caused by illegal fishing and illegal whaling, especially in the southern ocean," Knowles said. "We are at a point where we could lose the great whales in not only the southern ocean but the world, and it's important that we stand up and not let it happen."
Sea Shepherd is an organization that aims to end the needless slaughter of marine life throughout the globe. Knowles is currently part of an operation dubbed Divine Wind, protecting whales in the southern ocean from what the society sees as illegal Japanese whalers.
"The slaughter has no place in the 21st century and no place in the southern ocean," Knowles said. "It's an atrocity and it's murder."
Knowles began his career with Sea Shepherd as a deckhand on the Steve Irwin in 2010. He served in Operation Ferocious Isle, protecting pilot whales in the Faeroe Islands. He was also a member of the crew that delivered the Steve Irwin from Northern Europe to Western Australia.
Last summer he became a navigator for one the "delta" boats that are deployed to directly interfere with whaling activities. He has already been involved in a few skirmishes with the whalers.
"When you are out in the small boats you are definitely risking your life and you are putting yourself in front of the whales and a harpoon ship that has the potential to run you over. It's very dangerous and it can be an emotional struggle," Knowles said. "I think they think we are a real threat to their illegal whaling operation."
Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson said Operation Divine Wind is about hindering the Japanese whalers' ability to effectively hunt whales.
"The only reason that they are down here now is because they have received massive subsidies from the Japanese government, including 30 million dollars from the tsunami earthquake relief fund," Watson said. "The key is to keep them on the run and we have been doing that."
Last year, according to Knowles, Japan set its whale catch quota at 1,000 but only killed 153.
"Because of our intervention we cost them millions and millions of dollars and we cost them their kill quota," Knowles said. "Every year we are costing them money and we are trying to sink them economically."
Violence against the Sea Shepherd boats has escalated over the last couple of years. In January of 2010 the Shepherd's most recent acquisition to their fleet, the Ady Gil was rammed by Shonan Maru No. 2, injuring six crew members. The damage was so bad that the Ady Gil eventually sank.
"Every year the Japanese whalers step up their violence against us," Knowles said. "We were completely shocked this year as to how violent they were."
Knowles graduated from Handsworth secondary in 2007 and attended Okanagan College for a brief time before deciding to leave school and defend the world's oceans.
"I feel like I've found myself. I have never really enjoyed going to school. As much as I like getting an education, I feel it's really important to find what you are passionate for and this is what I am passionate about," he said. "It's an emotional and physical journey."
Watson said Knowles is a valuable crew member that maintains an excellent relationship with everybody on board.
"One of the best things about him is he has a great sense of humour and he keeps everybody's spirits up," he said. "It goes a long way for making a crew that works well together. We are down here in one of the most remote and hostile areas of the planet so it's important that everybody gets along and works together."
Knowles has been away from home for nearly eight months. He admits it's the longest he has ever been away from home but feels strongly about protecting endangered marine life.
"I have two younger brothers that I miss dearly and a girlfriend back home as well," he said.
"It's important to focus on our goals here and really understand that what we are doing is a good thing and that home is always going to be there but there is a good chance the whales won't be."
Scott Knowles has always been very close to Tommy and said his brother has made a huge commitment in joining the Sea Shepherd.
"I find it really cool that he is doing what he is doing out there. I am so proud of him," said Scott.
Once whale-hunting season is over in March, Knowles plans to return to North Vancouver, but said he will eventually return to serve with the Sea Shepherd fleet.
"To be here is an absolute honour," he said. "I see myself staying with the organization."
