Hannah Mermaid, Hayden Panettiere and ocean activists in Taiji, Japan, protesting the killing of dolphins, 2007
Image: © Peter Carrette / Icon Images

Surfers for Cetaceans

The ocean has always been an alluring source of adventure and rejuvenation throughout my life. In the mid 70’s when I was living on an island cliff top in New Zealand, riding longboards, sailing and diving, I had a kind of mystical epiphany about whales and dolphins, our ocean kin, that inspired me to take up painting large canvases about them and work toward the full protection of cetaceans.

All the wondrous encounters I’ve had with cetaceans have confirmed to me that we are indeed privileged to be in the company of this ancient and noble race of profoundly wise, joyful and ultimately forgiving people of the sea. I have initiated campaigns such as ‘The Universal Declaration of Marine Mammal Rights’, ‘Blue Groper’, ‘Get you Butts Off Our Beaches’, the ‘Whale Tipi Project’ and ‘Surfers for Cetaceans’.

I have been working with International Fund for Animal Welfare on art and education projects especially in relation to the South Pacific Whale Sanctuary proposal, and attending International Whaling Commission meetings.

It is our hope that the Surfers for Cetaceans movement will grow with your input and support, to become a clear voice for the collective power, will and creativity of surfers and active sea lovers everywhere; to form a united front against the bloody slaughter of whales and dolphins; to help safeguard their home seas, and to see the Whale Nation fully honoured and protected into the future.

Howie Cooke, artist, surfer, conservationist, Ocean Shores
www.surfersforcetaceans.com