Pete Bethune, an extreme eco-warrior from New Zealand, and his team of former special forces soldiers form a highly unusual group of environmental activists. Using the high-tech, high-speed, high-risk tactics of Navy Seals, SAS and other military forces, they attempt to board boats they suspect of fishing illegally, spend weeks in the jungle tracking poachers and conduct electronic surveillance.

The group is funded by simultaneously filming their activities for their own reality TV show, "The Operatives". Their method of operation are celebrated by some, and highly critiqued by others.