Eco warriors join Bob Brown’s crusade for Antarctic campaign

Bob Brown has hired two swashbuckling ecowarriors to head his new Antarctic campaign.

Alistair Allan has jumped ship to head the BBF’s new Antarctic protection campaign. Picture: Andrew Tauber

Bob Brown has hired two swashbuckling ecowarriors to head his new Antarctic campaign, and the battle-hardened recruits are flagging an ambitious protection agenda and potential on-water direct action.

Dr Brown’s foundation has hired two Antarctic campaigners for the new front in its environmental crusade, revealed by The Australian in September, and both are ship captains accustomed to high-stakes high seas drama.

Former Sea Shepherd skipper Alistair Allan has successfully harassed Japanese whalers and toothfishers in the Southern Ocean, as well as fishermen off the coast of Liberia.

Carola Rackete also has Antarctic experience and made global headlines last year after being arrested in Italy for docking a ship with asylum seekers on board, after rescuing them from the Libyan coast.

Mr Allan, 29, a Sea Shepherd captain for three years and veteran of four Antarctic protest voyages, said the foundation campaign would “absolutely” harness this experience and involve direct action.

“We’re exploring absolutely all the possibilities and direct action has been a big part of the Bob Brown Foundation,” Mr Allan told The Australian.

Carola Rackete has worked for German charity Sea-Watch, rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. Supplied

Dr Brown said barring a windfall donation, he would not be hiring a ship to take on toothfish and krill fishers in the seas around Antarctica.

However, Mr Allan said should such an opportunity arise, he would jump at it. “I wouldn’t exclude the possibility,” he said. “In conservation it’s good to aim for large goals because you’re up against big problems. I’d happily jump back behind the helm.”

Dr Brown described it as the first dedicated Antarctic protection campaign based in Australasia for decades and was likely to target krill and toothfish harvesting, the threat of future mineral exploration, Australia’s plans for a sealed runway near Davis research station, and “over-tourism”.

Ms Rackete, a German based in Norway and appointed to the campaign on a part-time basis, has a master’s degree in conservation management as well as a strong activist background.

She has worked for German charity Sea-Watch, rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.

The 32-year-old docked a ship with dozens of rescued migrants on board at Italy’s Lampedusa Island in defiance of Italian authorities and was arrested, only to be vindicated by the courts.

She said the BBF campaign would aim to secure greater protection for Antarctica and its oceans, given an Australian-led push for more marine protected areas was “completely stuck”.

“Limiting fishing doesn’t help us if we just shift fishing out of one area and see it take place somewhere else,” she said.

While reluctant to telegraph punches, the campaign was exploring alternative legal avenues to achieving protected status, including but not limited to world heritage.

Dr Brown said it would be “strange if we didn’t” undertake direct action as part of the Antarctic campaign and his two new campaigners were ideally suited.