The prize recognizes the crucial role of onboard scientific observers in managing the CCAMLR krill fishery.

ARK is taking a proactive stance by co-funding the project “Baleen whales and fishing for Antarctic krill: the role of fishing gear, operational overlap and mitigation efficacy”.

The 43rd annual meeting of CCAMLR ended in disappointment as delegates failed to agree on a revised krill management approach and the establishment of a new Marine Protected Area (MPA) for the Antarctic Peninsula.

In a pivotal symposium held in Incheon, Korea, CCAMLR members and stakeholders discussed a revised approach to krill management and the establishment of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Antarctic Peninsula. The symposium was co-sponsored by ARK and ASOC.

ARK is surprised at activities currently underway by Sea Shepherd in the Southern Ocean. 

Sea Shepherd has deployed a former toothfish vessel in the waters surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula, on a campaign that purports to be ‘defending the Southern Ocean’s unique ecosystem’. 

In so doing, Sea Shepherd is taking video and drone footage of ARK Member vessels currently legally harvesting krill.  The vessels are licensed, operating in accordance with all CCAMLR Conservation Measures and all have scientific observers on board. 

ARK Voluntary Restricted Zones, a voluntary measure led by krill fishing companies, obtained international recognition at the “100+ Biodiversity Positive practices and Actions around the World”.

In 2018 the krill industry made a commitment to voluntarily close fishing grounds near penguin colonies during the breeding season. As existing measure CM 51-07 for the spatial subdivision of the quota needs to be revised this year, voluntary actions by the industry might become the only operational regulatory mechanism in place to limit commercial exploitation in ecologically sensitive areas.

Current level and subdivision of the krill quota were extended for one season at the recent CCAMLR annual meeting, while the new krill fishery management strategy keeps progressing. Meanwhile, ARK voluntary measures keep protecting penguin colonies at the peak of their breeding season.

Krill fishery operations were far from “normal” during the 2020/21 season. COVID restrictions and low catches at some fishing grounds affected the fleet’s operation. Nonetheless, ARK members continue delivering acoustic data in support of the new krill management framework at all subareas where they operated.

Over 100 experts on krill biology, krill predators, Southern Ocean oceanography, conservation, the industry and krill management gathered online to discuss the past, present and future of the krill-based ecosystem.

ARK to support precautionary management of the winter krill fishery around South Georgia.

The Association of Responsible Krill Harvesting Companies (ARK), with support from an NGO coalition of Greenpeace, Pew, WWF and Oceanites, has decided to voluntarily implement a ‘no-take’ zone of 4,500 km2 in the Antarctic Peninsula.

Working at sea, far from conglomerations and COVID hotspots, seems like the right move these days. But getting there amid a pandemic, with border and travel restrictions, with multinational crews from around the globe, it’s a challenge in itself.

“Three percent of the total catch volume of the reduction fisheries in the analysis comes from stocks classified as “very good condition.” As in the four previous editions of this report, this corresponds to a single fishery: Antarctic krill - Atlantic Southern Ocean.

All vessels operated by ARK members complied with the VRZs during the 2018/19 fishing season.

The Survey will provide a much-needed estimate of the krill biomass in CCAMLR area 48.