Allianz launches partnership with Sea Shepherd for marine protection

Allianz has announced its partnership with the international marine conservation organization Sea Shepherd Global. The partnership is initially for two years and covers Italian coastal areas in the Mediterranean Sea. Four Allianz companies are providing the funding for the newly acquired ship “Sea Eagle” and its crew, who will be active on the disposal of illegally-left fishing nets.

“With targeted marine protection, eighty percent of the habitat of endangered animal and plant species could be protected. Healthy oceans also play a role in absorbing harmful climate emissions. As a responsible company, we want to work with Sea Shepherd to support effective marine conservation.” – Barbara Karuth-Zelle, Member of the Board of Management for Operations and IT at Allianz SE and a passionate diver.

“In Allianz Italy we are very active in the preservation of the environment and tackling plastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea is a shared objective.” – Giacomo Campora, CEO of Allianz S.p.A.

The US-based organization has its own fleet of ships and works closely with governments and coastal protection in Africa, Asia and increasingly Europe. Crews have been engaged in various missions to protect coral reefs, natural reservations, sea mammals and the organization has activated already hundreds of thousands of volunteers to clear beaches of trash. “Allianz and Sea Shepherd share a mission, and that is a clean Mediterranean Sea. We want to work together to tackle plastic waste and also raise awareness about illegally left fishing nets. We also plan to make new and useful products from the used plastic.” – Captain Alex Cornelissen, Executive Director of Sea Shepherd Global.