#MeTOO In THE Ocean Fields
The recent #MeToo movement in wildlife tourism and ecotourism has left me feeling sad. But I’m also SO proud. Proud of every person who has been brave enough to speak up and share their truth. That takes guts. And it’s exactly how we stop this from happening to someone ELSE.
This isn’t new, and it isn’t rare. In a Women in Ocean Science survey of almost 1,000 people, 78% had experienced or witnessed sexual harassment in their workplace, and 1 in 2 women said they would not feel comfortable reporting it. Fieldwork was the most common place it happened. Remote boats, field sites, tiny teams and dream jobs that thousands of people want: these are the conditions where power gets abused and silence gets protected.
I’ve worked in this field for a long time, and I know how hard it is to land a dream job working with wildlife. I know how passionate people in this field are, and how it can feel like you’d do ANYTHING to work with animals. I can relate!
But you don’t have to do anything. You SHOULDN’T have to do anything. Your talent, your work ethic and your love for these animals are what earn you a place here. Nothing else. If you ever feel unsafe or unsure about something you’re being asked to do, especially when an opportunity is dangled as the reward, trust your gut.
Red flags to look out for
Ultimatums. “Do this or your career is over.” “You’ll never work in this industry again.” No legitimate opportunity comes with a threat attached.
Opportunities tied to personal favors. Being told you need to “prove your commitment” in ways that have nothing to do with the job.
Secrecy. “What happens on the boat stays on the boat.” Being asked to keep conversations, messages or behavior between the two of you.
Isolation. Being the only one invited on a trip, put in shared housing or a shared room with a supervisor, or separated from the rest of the team at a remote site.
Boundary-testing “jokes.” Comments about your body, sexual jokes, or “relax, it’s just banter” when you say it’s not okay.
Unnecessary touching. Help with a wetsuit, gear check or “correction” that goes further than it needs to.
Pressure to drink. After-hours socializing where saying no to alcohol (or to staying out) is treated as not being a team player.
Requests for photos or “content.” Being asked to pose in swimwear or send pictures that have nothing to do with the work.
Late-night, personal messages from someone with power over your career, or gifts and special treatment that feel like they come with strings.
One person controls everything. No HR, no manager above them, no way to report, and a big personality or big following that makes everyone afraid to speak.
Quiet warnings and high turnover. Past staff or volunteers hint that you should be careful, or people keep leaving without explanation.
Punishment for saying no. Losing shifts, animal time, references or opportunities after you set a boundary.
Before you accept a role, it’s okay to ask: Who do I report to, and who do they report to? Is there a code of conduct or reporting process? Where will I be staying, and with whom? Can I talk to someone who’s worked or volunteered here before? A safe organization will be glad you asked.
Resources
Find someone you trust and tell them. A friend, family member, mentor or colleague. You don’t have to carry this alone. We need to stand together as conservationists and scientists.
Write it down. Dates, places, what was said, who was there. Screenshot messages and save emails somewhere the other person can’t access. You don’t have to decide what to do with it yet; it just keeps your options open.
Add your voice to the research. Women in Ocean Science has launched a global survey on sexual harassment and sexual assault across wildlife tourism and ecotourism, on land and at sea, and it’s open to women AND men. If you’ve worked, volunteered, studied or traveled in this space, your experience matters, whether it happened to you or you witnessed it. Take the survey here: LINK
Talk to a professional, for free:
Australia: 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) is a confidential 24-hour helpline for people who have experienced sexual assault and domestic violence. You can also text “HELLO” to 0458 737 732. For mental health support, call Lifeline at 13 11 14. If your life is in danger, call 000.
USA: RAINN runs the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) with rape crisis centers across the country, free and confidential, 24/7, and online support is available at hotline.rainn.org.
Know your workplace rights:
In Australia, the Australian Human Rights Commission has Respect at Work resources to help people understand, prevent and address workplace sexual harassment.
USA: The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) handles sexual harassment complaints. Contact them online at publicportal.eeoc.gov, in person at an EEOC office, or by phone at 1-800-669-4000.
For leaders and field teams: read “Know Before You Go” in Oceanography, a set of community recommendations for planning for and preventing sexual harassment at field sites.
How to be there for someone who has experienced abuse
If someone trusts you with their story, how you respond in that moment matters more than you might think.
Believe them. Say it out loud: “I believe you. Thank you for telling me.” Many survivors stay silent for years because they’re scared no one will.
Listen more than you talk. You don’t need the perfect words. Let them share as much or as little as they want, at their own pace.
Don’t ask “why.” “Why didn’t you leave?” or “Why didn’t you say something sooner?” can feel like blame, even when you don’t mean it that way.
Remind them it’s not their fault. No matter what they wore, drank, said or how much they wanted the job.
Let them lead. It’s their decision whether to report, speak publicly, or do nothing at all right now. Your job is to support the choice, not make it.
Keep it private. Their story is theirs to tell. Don’t share it, even with good intentions, without their permission.
Ask what they need. Company at an appointment? Help finding a counselor? Someone to sit with on a hard day? Offer practical help, not just sympathy.
Check in later. Healing isn’t a single conversation. A message weeks later saying “thinking of you” can mean the world.
Look after yourself, too. Supporting someone through trauma is heavy. 1800RESPECT also offers guidance on helping a friend or relative affected by violence and abuse, so you don’t have to figure it out alone.
We need to have each other’s backs
As scientists and people who are so passionate about conservation and working with animals, we need to look out for each other the way we look out for the animals in our care. If you feel like you don’t have anyone to talk to, or anyone who would understand what you’ve been through, I’m happy to lend an ear. Just email me at hunter@sharkhunter0.com and I will hear you out. I’m not a counselor, but I’ll listen, I’ll believe you, and I’ll help you find the right support.
To everyone who has spoken up: thank you. You are making this field safer for the next person who dreams of working with wildlife.
