Sea Shepherd has launched Operation Antarctica Defense 2026 following the departure of the M/Y Allankay from Ushuaia on February 10th.
The campaign comes at a critical moment. Last season, the industrial krill fishery reached its seasonal catch limit early for the first time, triggering an unprecedented early closure. This extraordinary development highlights the escalating pressure on krill populations and the Antarctic ecosystem already destabilized by climate change.
Industrial krill super trawlers operate between the South Orkney Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, an area scientists describe as one of the most important whale feeding grounds in the world and a proposed Marine Protected Area.
Krill are the foundation of the Antarctic food web. Whales, penguins, seals, and seabirds rely on them as their primary food source. Without sufficient krill, these species cannot feed, reproduce, or recover from past population declines.
On our first day back off Coronation Island, Sea Shepherd documented krill super trawlers hauling nets in the midst of feeding whales, with whale blows and flukes visible alongside active fishing operations.
Our crew also observed vessels conducting refuelling and transshipment operations at sea, allowing fleets to maximize time on the fishing grounds rather than returning to port. These practices increase the risk that any fuel spill or pollution incident in these remote waters would go undetected and be far more difficult to contain.
Scientists warn that industrial-scale krill extraction combined with climate-driven sea ice loss is increasing pressure on the entire Antarctic ecosystem.
Sea Shepherd’s previous campaigns have already produced tangible impact. In 2025, global attention on industrial krill fishing and Sea Shepherd documentation contributed to Holland & Barrett’s decision to stop selling krill-based products beginning in April 2026, demonstrating that sustained public awareness can influence industry behavior.
Edge of the World: Krill Crisis
A weekly series filmed in real time from the frontlines of Operation Antarctica Defense, documenting industrial krill super trawlers operating inside critical whale feeding grounds in the Southern Ocean.
Watch the full series and follow weekly updates from Antarctica →
Operation Antarctica Defense 2026 Objectives
1. Expose the Krill Crisis
Documenting krill super trawlers operating in Antarctic whale feeding grounds and enabling independent news reporting aboard the Allankay to bring global visibility to industrial extraction in the Southern Ocean.
2. Advance Independent Science
Hosting leading scientists to collect on-the-water data addressing critical knowledge gaps and generating multi-year, peer-reviewed research on whale presence and behavior in areas where the industrial krill fleet operates.
3. Increase Economic Pressure
Encouraging retailers to discontinue the sale of krill oil supplements and other consumer products linked to Antarctic extraction, increasing financial pressure on the industry.
“ Most people assume Antarctica is untouched. In reality, industrial extraction is increasing in key wildlife feeding grounds. This campaign is critical to document what is happening, support independent science, and ensure policymakers and the public understand what is at stake. ”
Peter Hammarstedt · Campaign Director, Sea Shepherd Global
Independent scientists onboard will conduct line-transect surveys, drone-based distance measurements between whales and super trawlers, acoustic monitoring, and photo identification research. The goal is to produce rigorous data capable of informing international policy decisions.
These research outputs are expected to inform future decision-making at the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the international body responsible for managing fisheries in the Southern Ocean.
CCAMLR has not yet established long-proposed Marine Protected Areas in the Antarctic Peninsula region, and a previous requirement to distribute krill catches more broadly across the region was not renewed in 2024, allowing fishing effort to become more geographically concentrated.
Sea Shepherd will provide regular updates throughout February and March as the Allankay operates in the Southern Ocean.
Defending Antarctic Whale Feeding Grounds
Industrial krill extraction threatens the foundation of the Antarctic food web. Monthly support keeps vessels on the water documenting activity and protecting critical wildlife habitat.
