The science necessary to save the Antarctic Ecosystem

Stopping illegal activity at sea is something we’ve done for decades. If it’s whaling, we block it. If it’s drift nets, we pull them. If it’s illegal fishing vessels, we track and expose them until they’re cut off from fuel and ports.

But what happens when the threat isn’t illegal?

That’s the situation we’re facing in the Antarctic right now. Industrial krill fishing—allowed under current regulations—is hammering one of the most sensitive ecosystems on the planet. And because it’s technically legal, we have to fight it differently.

This campaign is built on three pillars:

1. Document and expose
We’ve been filming krill supertrawlers operating in the Southern Ocean, right in areas where penguins, whales, and seals rely on krill to survive. Just showing what’s happening out here has already had an impact—public pressure helped prevent a planned increase in krill quotas in 2023.

2. Disrupt the supply chain – SaveKrill.com
This isn’t just about awareness—it’s about pressure. SaveKrill.com gives people the tools to act. Anyone can look up which companies in their country are selling krill products and send them a message—custom or pre-written. Behind the scenes, this is part of a much bigger strategy to disrupt the krill supply chain and push retailers to make better choices. Every message sent chips away at the demand driving this destruction.

3. Science
This region is still poorly understood. The areas being targeted by krill fisheries are some of the most data-deficient in the world. That’s why we brought scientists onboard—to gather vital data on animal populations, behavior, and how these species interact with fishing vessels. That data is key to making the case for turning these waters into fully protected marine reserves.

And now, the fun part!
Since science is a clear part of our way to reach our goal in the Antarctic, we’ve got a group of scientists on board with us, living life at sea and working in the middle of all this action. You’ll hear directly from them in this video: why they’re here, what they’re learning, and why this kind of research, right now, matters so much for the future of the Antarctic.