June 13, 2023

When I was ousted from SSCS, one of the first to openly support me was Sammarye Lewis, the chapter head for SSCS NorCal (Northern California).

Sammarye was one of the original founders of the NorCal chapter of SSCS in 2011, and held a coordinator/admin role until July 2022, when in her own words, she resigned in disgust, and in protest, against the “SSCS new direction” and the “traitorous, reprehensible treatment of Captain Paul Watson.” A strong supporter, she began making plans for a CPWF San Francisco team. She is now the San Francisco CPWF Team Leader. She admins the SF Team page and several social media pages in support of CPWF.

Sammarye has been an active wildlife rescue volunteer for over twenty years, and spent five years rescuing stranded sea lions, harbor seal pups and elephant seal pups with The Marine Mammal Center. She was a First Responder for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, rescuing oiled wildlife and ocean beings in the Gulf. She was also a First Responder for the CZU Lightning Complex wildfires in the Santa Cruz Mountains in 2020. She is an on-call wildlife search and rescue volunteer for two nonprofits in Northern California. She has also participated in numerous animal rights protests in the Bay Area, including protests against whaling.

In response to her support for the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, she was sent legal papers threatening her with a lawsuit if she did not refrain from her criticisms and her postings about the new direction of SSCS. Her response to these threats was to double down in her opposition the the new directions of SSCS.

This was her resignation letter:

Pritam Singh and Board Members:

I am one of the original founders of the NorCal Chapter. I attended organizational meetings with Lincoln Shaw and other Antarctica crew members during the Fall of 2010. I have had a Coordinator/Administrative role in our NorCal Chapter page since 2011.

Having our crews out on ocean campaigns, in the ships, with hands-on removal of fishing nets that endanger and kill ocean life, and monitoring, patrolling and pursuing poachers is my idea of protecting ocean life and is why I have supported and fundraised for Sea Shepherd USA.

I support the people who have given years of their time and energy, and yes, suffered, to defend, protect and conserve our oceans. I support direct, non-violent action. Scientific research is not a substitute for me, nor for my mission to be a good steward for the oceans.

Our passionate, dedicated crews are not lunatics, and it is an insult to all OSV and crews to read an article that diminishes and trashes both our outstanding crews and Captain Paul Watson.

I do not approve of, nor trust, the fiscal management by the present leadership, who appear to place self-interest over the mission of Sea Shepherd.

Establishing an expensive, unwarranted, and unnecessary subsidiary (Marine Protection Alliance) which will drain donated funds from Sea Shepherd US, with a

sham board of directors and leadership based upon self-interest, is the last straw for me. 

Leadership on both organizations has a history that reflects financial legal issues, ties to dolphin captivity and to the fishing industry.

After establishing the NorCal Chapter and giving my time, energy and dedication for the past 12 years, I can no longer support the Sea Shepherd USA leadership, which has a history that reflects financial legal issues, ties to dolphin captivity and also to the fishing industry. I suspect that with the results of the “scientific research” by MPA, that SS USA will be advocating sustainable fishing in the near future. It is really quite transparent to any thinking person about the direction that the new Sea Shepherd is heading, and why.

Sammarye represents the qualities that we need to protect life in the sea: Passion, courage, and imagination along with a determined loyalty to our goals and objectives.

I am proud to have her represent the Foundation in San Francisco and Northern California.