In the icy waters of Antarctica, a battle is unfolding – one that could determine the future of one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. As humpback and fin whales make their hard-fought return from the brink of extinction, they find themselves in an unexpected struggle: the krill they rely on for survival is being harvested at an alarming rate, while fishing boats spy on their movements to track and steal their food. We have the answers, the science, and the forums to fight for this tiny foundational species (krill) and the ecosystems that depend on it – we just need the will to action them.
Key to a Healthy Southern Ocean
Drifting through Antarctica’s Southern Ocean, feeding on phytoplankton and congregating in dense swarms, is a small marine crustacean, Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), a species found only in the Southern Ocean. These shrimp-like creatures, about the size of your thumb, form the foundation of the Southern Ocean ecosystem. From squid and seals to penguins and whales, they provide a vital food source for Antarctic wildlife. Without them, the entire ecosystem would collapse.
Krill in Crisis
Despite being at the centre of the Southern Ocean ecosystem, these small creatures face growing threats from climate change and localised industrial fishing.
Krill fishing has increased sharply over the past decade, primarily for aquaculture feed and fish bait. This surge is particularly concerning in coastal areas, which are vital feeding grounds for penguins, seals, whales, and other predators.
The latest CCAMLR (Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) meeting in October 2024 failed to advance an updated krill management plan that would establish a new marine protected area (MPA) and mandate a more spread-out approach to krill fishing. This measure would limit fishing in key biodiversity hotspots, offering protection to wildlife already struggling with the impacts of climate change.
Fishing Where Whales Feed
The new measure would also have meant less conflict with whales. After decades of whaling, Antarctica’s humpback and fin whales are finally making a comeback. But now they’re up against a new threat: the rapidly expanding krill fishing industry. This is raising concerns that a shortage of krill might hinder their recovery.
Increasing media attention is focussed on the increase of krill fishing boats in areas where whale pods feed, including reports of whale deaths linked to these fishing operations.
Reports documented fishing trawlers harvesting Antarctic krill alongside feeding whales, including large ‘supergroups’ numbering close to 1,000 individuals. Essentially, they’re going after the same thing: the biggest, largest, densest krill swarms.
To locate these krill swarms, fishing boats track whale movements, creating direct competition for a critical food source and posing collision risks between whales and ships.
Why This Puts Whales at Risk
In a cruel twist, the very survival instincts whales honed over millennia are being used against them. Krill ships don’t just pose a collision risk – they’re taking a critical food source when whales need it most. The majority of humpbacks are only in Antarctica for the summer when they fatten up on krill before their long migrations. In winter, they largely fast as they migrate to northern climates to breed. Krill ships only operate in Antarctica during the summers, targeting these key feeding grounds
We Have the Answers
One way we can protect whales and other Antarctic wildlife is through 30×30, a conservation goal to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. A network of “no take” MPAs would not only help secure vital feeding grounds for whales and other marine life but also provide vulnerable ecosystems with the space they need to adapt to a changing environment and emerging threats, easing the pressure where it matters most.
In addition to creating MPAs, we also need stronger, more robust management of krill fisheries. Currently, the system relies on outdated rules that were set when baleen whales were scarce and krill catches were low relative to estimated biomass – both of which have changed. To address this, CCAMLR must prioritise gathering up-to-date data on both krill and whale populations to inform a revised management framework. Without this, increasing catch levels is irresponsible and could further threaten these fragile ecosystems.
Antarctic humpback and fin whale numbers are finally increasing after decades of whaling. We can’t afford to lose them again. As Sea Shepherd Director Peter Hammarstedt says, “To protect the world’s largest creatures, we have to protect the world’s smallest creatures.”
Image credits (in order of appearance)
Big krill swarm © The Ozone Hole | Individual krill © George F. Mobley | Small krill swarm © Jamie Hall | A blue whale feeding on krill © Richard Herrmann | An industrial krill fishing vessel in Antarctica © Youenn Kerdavid and Sea Shepherd | A young humpback whale feeding close to a krill supertrawler in Antarctica © Youenn Kerdavid and Sea Shepherd
