The Age of Union Ship in West African Waters​

The M/Y Age of Union Ship, formerly known as the Sam Simon, is a 56-meter vessel operated by Sea Shepherd Global, dedicated to marine conservation efforts. With a crew capacity of up to 35, the ship’s team comprises both paid professionals and volunteers from around the world, maintaining a gender composition of approximately 40% female and 60% male. Primarily active along the West African coast, the M/Y Age of Union collaborates with local governments to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, conducting joint at-sea patrols to protect marine biodiversity and support sustainable fishing practices. 

​West African waters are vital for the livelihoods and food security of millions, yet they face significant threats that jeopardize marine biodiversity and economic stability. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing depletes fish stocks, impacts local small-scale fishery and undermines local economies.

Operation Dolphin Bycatch

At the start of our partnership, the M/Y Age of Union vessel traveled along France’s Atlantic coast to address the dolphin bycatch crisis and film a documentary on the issue.

Every year, thousands of dolphins are killed by unregulated commercial fishing practices in the Bay of Biscay. First reported by Pelagis Observatory scientists in 2018, dolphin deaths have continued to rise due to government inaction, continued fishing subsidies, and low public awareness.

Today, France’s dolphin bycatch rates are twice as high as those of other countries, with an average of 10,000 dolphins killed annually — a number that far exceeds the deaths from the notorious hunts in the Faroe Islands and Taiji, Japan.

Atlantic humpback dolphins are critically endangered due to:

• Frequent entanglement in fishing gear
• Extremely limited habitat (coastal West Africa)
• Small, fragmented populations (fewer than 3,000 individuals)
• Slow reproductive rates

On the front lines, Sea Shepherd France President Lamya Essemlali leads efforts to expose and stop these deadly fishing practices. This urgent battle is the focus of Age of Union’s documentary CAUGHT, which premiered at Wildscreen Festival 2022.

Partnership Impact

• Maintenance and operation of the 56-metre M/Y Age of Union vessel and crew.
• 1 documentary film produced – Caught.
• 1 major policy change on bycatch in France following the release of Caught.
• 8 major campaigns in collaboration with West African governments and law enforcement to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• 30 major arrests, preventing environmental crimes and saving hundreds of thousands of marine lives.
• 65,675 nautical miles of ranger patrols to protect biologically significant areas and species.
• 2,100,000 square kilometers patrolled to safeguard marine ecosystems.
• 170 law enforcement agents trained, including 25 female African cadets through the Women in Maritime Affairs (WIMA) initiative aboard the M/Y Age of Union.

Mission

The M/Y Age of Union vessel undertakes various missions that aim to:

• Exposing Destructive Fishing Practices: Documenting and publicizing harmful activities, such as the mass fish dumping by super trawlers, to raise awareness and drive policy changes
• Collaborating with Governments: Partnering with national authorities, especially in West Africa, to enhance enforcement against illegal fishing and support sustainable marine resource management
• Training Law Enforcement Agents: Providing training to law enforcement personnel, including initiatives like the Women in Maritime Affairs (WIMA), to build local capacity in marine conservation
• Engaging with Local Communities: Collaborating with local communities to combat IUU fishing in the region, thereby protecting marine ecosystems and supporting local livelihoods.

Iconic Species

West Africa is home to the following species, all of which benefit either directly from relief of overfishing pressures or via bycatch: Atlantic humpback dolphins (critically endangered), whale sharks (endangered), hawksbill turtles (critically endangered), leatherback turtles (vulnerable), green sea turtles (endangered), olive ridley turtles (vulnerable), several shark species (including hammerhead sharks, which are critically endangered), guitarfish (critically endangered), various grouper species (many endangered), blue marlin (vulnerable), and certain tuna species (particularly bigeye tuna, which is vulnerable).

Timeline

Sea Shepherd Global has partnered with five West African governments leading to various operations. The M/Y Age of Union patrolled during the following dates:

Liberia – Operation Sola Stella
August 26 2022 – October 25 2022
March 23 2023 – April 16 2022
June 26 2023 – July 11 2023
December 12 2023 – January 27 2024
April 21 2024 – April 25 2024

Sao Tome & Principe – Operation Albacore
June 13 2024 – July 30 2024

Sierra Leone – Operation Sierra Leone Coastal Defense
December 1 2022 – December 24 2022
January 5 2023 – February 8 2023
April 14 2024 – April 18 2024
May 4 2024 – June 4 2024 

The Gambia – Operation Gambian Coastal Defense
July 15 2023 – August 14 2023
January 30 2024 – February 14 2024
February 25 2024 – April 8 2024

Benin – Operation Guegou
June 17 2022 – August 8 2022
April 26 2023 – May 15 2023