“Vacuum” Ships

What we are witnessing and documenting in Antarctic waters is massive ships, among the largest in the world, using relentless vacuum systems that continuously suck enormous quantities of krill directly from the ocean—the foundational food source for whales, penguins, seals, and countless marine species. Unlike traditional trawling gear, where fishing activity is paused several times a day as the net is set or recovered, these high-tech hoses never pause, indiscriminately removing and processing up to 110 tons of krill meal per day.

During our patrol, we captured unsettling evidence of these "vacuum ships" in action, witnessing industrial vessels positioned amidst superpods of feeding whales, effectively competing against wildlife in their own habitat. Whales arrive after traveling thousands of kilometers, often accompanied by calves, only to find their food supply drastically diminished. In desperation, these whales sometimes trail the fishing vessels, possibly hoping to feed from what's left behind.

A major issue with the vacuum system is that they increase the risk of whale entanglements. Why? Because the nets are being dragged through the water 24 hours a day, for days and days at a time. That means that the fishers may not notice that a whale is caught up in the net until long after the animal has drowned. Most of the whale deaths are from ships with these vacuum systems.

Their use not only epitomizes an overzealous industrial approach, but also signals a dangerous pivot in fishing methods that prioritizes speed and efficiency over the long-term health of the ecosystem.

The Transshipment Game

Our crew also documented transshipment operations, where krill catches are transferred from fishing vessels onto refrigerated cargo ships at sea. This deeply troubling practice – which allows fishing ships to remain at sea indefinitely, maximizing their catch with minimal oversight – is nonetheless legal under the rules set by the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the intergovernmental body responsible for managing the krill fishery. 

During one such transshipment, we observed operations continuing nonstop for more than 14 hours, transferring colossal bags of krill, each weighing approximately 500 kilograms. The scale of extraction is staggering and unsustainable.

In one alarming incident, we observed a Russian cargo vessel refueling from a tanker while simultaneously transferring krill at sea. If anything went wrong, the pristine Antarctic ecosystem would be at risk of catastrophic damage. This reckless practice contradicts the spirit of the law of the Antarctic Treaty and highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations.

Our crew is committed to documenting and exposing these practices precisely because, without our presence, these activities would remain hidden, causing irreparable harm unseen by the world. The sheer contrast between Antarctica's stunning wilderness and these industrial operations is stark and disturbing.

The situation demands immediate action. It is essential that CCAMLR adopts the proposed Antarctic Peninsula Marine Protected Area (MPA) to safeguard Antarctica’s vital krill populations. Protecting krill means protecting whales, seals, penguins, and the entire marine ecosystem dependent on this tiny, critical species.

It’s time to stop the plunder and preserve Antarctica’s wilderness. Sea Shepherd will continue confronting these threats directly, holding those responsible accountable, until the Antarctic ecosystem receives the protection it urgently needs.

Read more about Operation Antarctica Defense

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