Defending the Southern Ocean
Operation Antarctica Defense
Confronting the Krill Crisis
Antarctic Wake-Up Call
Last year, what we documented in Antarctica shocked the world. We thought the whales of the Southern Ocean were safe. We were wrong.
Our ship, the Allankay, shone a spotlight on the krill fishing fleets that are destroying Antarctica’s fragile ecosystem. These enormous supertrawlers are taking huge amounts of krill from the otherwise pristine Antarctic waters.
We witnessed these trawlers plowing through a pod of over 200 whales that were feeding on krill. The images we captured of industry competing with wildlife for the same food were shared across the world and have sparked outrage, and is causing many to call for this industry to be shut down.
A Foodchain, Disrupted
New Threats to Antarctic Wildlife
The new threat facing Antarctica is requiring us to head south once more. These colossal operations disrupt the delicate balance of the Antarctic ecosystems, leaving whales, seals and penguins outcompeted for their primary food source, krill - the keystone of the Antarctic marine ecosystem.
Please join our fight to defend the Antarctic.
Ecosystems in the Balance
Krill: Foundation of Antarctica
Krill, are small crustaceans that play a significant role in the frigid Antarctic marine ecosystems where they thrive due to rich, nutrient waters. They serve as the foundation of the Antarctic food chain and are the primary food source for various marine life, like whales, seals, and seabirds. But over the past two decades, the human demand for krill has more than doubled because of the booming – and highly lucrative -- aquaculture and health supplement industries, supplying western consumers.
A Pledge of Enduring Protection
Sustaining Antarctica's Legacy
For over a decade, we fought to defend whales from explosive-tipped harpoons in the Antarctic. And we won. This experience has ensured that we have the passion and resolve to defend the Southern Ocean’s unique ecosystem, no matter what the threat may be.
In early 2024 we will be returning to Antarctica, for as long as Antarctica needs us, we will be there to protect it.