ABOARD THE SEA EAGLE – When YouTube influencer Elayna Carausu stepped aboard the Sea Shepherd vessel Sea Eagle last month, she embarked on a high seas adventure to chronicle the crew’s daring efforts to combat illegal fishing in the Mediterranean Sea.

“It was a pretty surreal feeling because back in the day Riley [my partner] and I would watch Whale Wars on TV which followed the daily lives of the Sea Shepherd crew fighting for justice on the high seas,” said Ms. Carausu, 27, a widely followed content creator known for her intrepid travels. “To actually be standing on board as a filmmaker preparing to document this vessel and her mission for my own YouTube channel was a huge deal for me.”

Over 72 hours in September, Ms. Carausu captured the Sea Eagle crew’s dangerous work pulling up hidden nets and liberating trapped wildlife. She called the experience “eye opening” and said the passionate crew were “bloody legends.”

Her videos underscore the massive scale of illegal fishing across the world’s oceans, and the daring efforts of activists to expose and disrupt harmful practices on the high seas.

Here is a detailed account of Ms. Carausu’s voyage aboard Sea Eagle, as told in her own words:

1. 3:10 – Meet Julia!

Ms. Carausu was joined on the trip by her friend Julia, who she said wanted to “stick around to come aboard the Sea Shepherd." The influencer said her partner Riley had returned home to Indonesia with their children so she could take advantage of the "girl's trip" at sea. "I'm glad we've got Julia. She's Julia is awesome," Ms. Carausu said.

3. 5:50 – Boarding Sea Eagle!

Stepping aboard Sea Eagle for the first time, Ms. Carausu said she was “kind of dying inside” with excitement. “Back in the day Riley and I would watch Whale Wars on TV which followed the daily lives of the Sea Shepherd crew fighting for justice on the high seas," she recalled. "To actually be standing on board as a filmmaker preparing to document this vessel and her mission for my own YouTube channel was a huge deal for me.”

4. 7:15 – BOAT TOUR!

Ms. Carausu took viewers on a video tour of Sea Eagle, showing its narrow halls, crew cabins, kitchen, navigation equipment and more. She highlighted safety features like life rafts in case someone goes overboard. “I'm still so disorientated we're going to go up a floor, see what's there because I've already forgotten it," she remarked about the maze-like interior.

5. 12:36 – Spotted: Illegal fishing lines

On patrol, Sea Eagle located its first illegal fishing nets in the water, prompting excitement from Ms. Carausu. "I shouldn't be so excited about this. This is not good," she said, noting the harmful impact on wildlife. She explained Sea Shepherd crews use long line reels to remove illegal nets, working to untangle trapped animals.

6. 13:13 – Hot Summer Nights!

Ms. Carausu described sweaty nights sharing a cabin with Julia on board Sea Eagle. “It’s really, really hot down here,” she said of their windowless quarters. “I woke up sweating.” She said they resorted to leaving their door open for air, despite the loss of privacy.

7. 15:08 – More Illegal lines!!

Sea Eagle located more illegal fishing nets and octopus traps hidden under the waves. Ms. Carausu was moved by the experience of freeing octopuses ensnared in the nets. “These animals are so intelligent and sneaky with the ability to change their color patterns and even texture to match their surroundings," she said. Releasing them was “a pretty special experience,” she added.

8. 17:45 – Thoughts onboard…

Reflecting on her voyage, Ms. Carausu said it was “humbling” to see the Sea Shepherd crew collaborating with local authorities. She called the experience “eye opening” and said she was proud to help document their work combating illegal fishing. “Hats off to these guys who can pull up to three lines a day," she remarked. "It’s not the easiest work obviously, [but] really rewarding.”

9. 20:58 – Rome!

After disembarking Sea Eagle, Ms. Carausu explored Rome, Italy with her friend Julia. She promised to take viewers along on their “girl’s trip” enjoying pizza, sightseeing and more. “Stick around for that and actually Julia and I are going to Rome the following day,” she told fans.

10. 23:38 – BIG update!

In a plot twist, Ms. Carausu revealed she was filming from Berlin, having met up with more friends after Rome. She then traveled back to Indonesia to reunite with her family after her European adventures. Reflecting on the illicit fishing she witnessed aboard Sea Eagle, Ms. Carausu said her friend Fran grew up on the same coasts and lamented the disappearance of local octopus populations, illustrating the real-world stakes. She thanked Sea Shepherd supporters, calling them “legends” for backing critical conservation work.

Summary:

YouTube personality Elayna Carausu delighted fans by bringing them aboard the front lines of marine conservation with Sea Shepherd activists battling illegal fishing in the Mediterranean Sea. Her videos exposed the secretive world of high seas crime while showcasing efforts to protect endangered wildlife. Despite sweaty nights in cramped quarters, Ms. Carausu called the voyage “eye opening,” saying she was honored to join the “passionate” crew and document their critical work combating ecological destruction on the oceans. Her fans welcomed the exclusive behind-the-scenes look at life aboard a swashbuckling conservation vessel fighting for ocean justice.