London, UK – A new Greenpeace investigation has tracked the activities of the little-known krill fishing industry in the Antarctic over the last five years, to expose the environmental risks of this fast-growing industry in one of the world\u2019s most pristine regions.<\/p>\n
This fishing industry is targeting tiny shrimp-like krill \u2014 one of the most important species in the Antarctic food web, eaten by everything from blue whales to Ad\u00e9lie penguins \u2014 to be sold in products such as krill oil and Omega-3 tablets, as well as fishmeal for farmed fish and even pet food. But despite presenting itself as one of the best managed fisheries in the world, Greenpeace International\u2019s new report <\/span>Licence to Krill: The little-known world of Antarctic fishing<\/span><\/a>, <\/span><\/i>paints a different picture.<\/span><\/p>\n The report reveals: <\/b><\/p>\n Frida Bengtsson of Greenpeace\u2019s Protect the Antarctic campaign\u00a0said: <\/b><\/p>\n \u201cThe krill fishing industry in the Antarctic presents itself as purer than snow – but the real story is a murky one of vessels fishing from the bottom of the food chain near the feeding grounds of whales, penguins and other animals. They\u2019re waging a tug-of-war for food with animals in the region, in an area already struggling with change. Climate change is impacting on krill numbers and Antarctic wildlife shouldn\u2019t have to be directly competing for food with trawlers just so these companies can sell health pills on the other side of the world.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf the krill industry wants to show it\u2019s a responsible player, then it should be voluntarily getting out of any area which is being proposed as an ocean sanctuary, and should instead be backing the protection of these huge swathes of the Antarctic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Greenpeace is calling on the krill fishing industry to immediately cease all fishing activities in areas under consideration for protection by the Antarctic Ocean Commission and for all businesses buying krill-derived products to stop sourcing from vessels that continue to fish in these same areas. <\/span><\/p>\n The report comes during a three-month Greenpeace expedition to the Antarctic. The expedition has undertaken <\/span>landmark scientific research<\/span><\/a> and is raising awareness of the need for ocean sanctuaries in the Antarctic, including a 1.8 million square kilometre Antarctic Ocean Sanctuary in the Weddell Sea. Greenpeace is also supporting proposals for protection of the Antarctic Peninsula and elsewhere, as part of a campaign to create a network of ocean sanctuaries covering at least 30% of the world\u2019s oceans by 2030.<\/span><\/p>\n ENDS<\/span><\/p>\n Notes:<\/b><\/p>\n Read the full report here: <\/span>Licence to Krill: The little-known world of Antarctic fishing<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Over 1 million people globally have already <\/span>backed the call<\/span><\/a> for the creation of an Antarctic Ocean Sanctuary covering 1.8 million square kilometres.<\/span><\/p>\n Frida Bengtsson is a senior oceans campaigner at Greenpeace Nordic. <\/span><\/p>\n Photo and video:<\/b><\/p>\n Pictures from Greenpeace\u2019s Antarctic expedition, including images of krill fishing vessels can be found here:\u00a0http:\/\/media.greenpeace.org\/collection\/27MZIFJX9IE3D<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Media contacts:<\/b><\/p>\n Luke Massey, Protect the Antarctic Global Communications Lead, Greenpeace UK:\u00a0<\/span>luke.massey@greenpeace.org<\/span><\/a>, +44 (0) 7973 873 155<\/span><\/p>\n\n