Sea Shepherd: How is this still legal? Massive trawlers from 6 countries dragging nets large enough to swallow a jumbo jet, are stealing the food for whales, seals, and penguins

 

For three years in a row, our crew has witnessed the damage caused by krill #supertrawlers in Antarctica. What should be some of the most intact waters on Earth are being turned into an industrial production line.

These vessels operate as floating factories. They vacuum up krill, process it onboard, and turn it into products that feed a destructive global market. The consequences for #marinelife are severe and they are unfolding right in front of us.

This cannot continue

Watch our video on YouTube to see what is happening and join the fight to #StopThePlunder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-qTpOi4HwM

Later this month, we are returning to #Antarctica. Once again, we will document what is being ignored and keep sounding the alarm until real protection is in place.

We are also preparing something new to fully immerse you in this campaign. From the crew perspective to Antarctica itself. Stay close by subscribing to our newsletter and turn on your notifications
https://seashe.ph/antarctica

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🚨Launching January 2026: Operation Antarctic Defence. 🚨

We thought the whales of the Southern Ocean were safe. We were wrong. 😓

Fourteen massive supertrawlers from six countries are working between the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Orkney Islands - competing directly with fin and humpback whales for krill, their primary food source.


Despite the availability of plant-based alternatives, krill is being stripped from Antarctic waters to produce Omega-3 supplements, farmed salmon feed, and even pet food.

When we returned to Antarctica where our crew witnessed supertrawlers plowing straight through a pod of over 200 whales actively feeding on krill.

The images we captured spread across the globe, sparking outrage and renewed calls to shut this industry down.

“Supertrawlers dragging nets large enough to swallow a jumbo jet are taking the food of whales, seals, and penguins from one of the world’s most vulnerable ecosystems — so it can be fed to dogs and cats at home,” — Peter Hammarstedt, Director of Campaigns, Sea Shepherd Global.

Sea Shepherd has stopped illegal whaling and dismantled criminal fishing operations in the Southern Ocean before. But this threat is different. The krill fishery is technically legal - lightly regulated, poorly protected, and expanding fast.

To protect Antarctic whales, we must change the laws, strengthen regional protections, and shift market demand. When whales are under threat - Sea Shepherd will be there, and that's why we are returning this January.


👉 Stay up to date with Operation Antarctic Defence by subscribing to our email newsletters via the link in bio.

📷: Youenn Kerdavid / Flavio Gasperini / Sea Shepherd

Photo: Scorpion Reef

This August, the M/V Sharkwater is at Scorpion Reef. Sea Shepherd has always been most effective when we put ourselves where change needs to happen, and on the water that means ships, crews and a persistent presence in places where wildlife and protected areas are under pressure.

Together the corridor covers over 6,300 square miles of protected ocean in the Gulf of Mexico — two parks, two ships, one permanent mission.

What Threatens It

Latest from the OperationJanuary 2026: 1,543 lbs of illegal catch seized at Scorpion Reef

One vessel intercepted. 700 kg of illegally caught fish seized. Vessel detained for permanent seizure by Mexican authorities.

See all updates ↓

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Industrial Scale Poaching

Poachers strip spawning aggregations of queen conch, squid, octopus, grouper, amberjack, and snapper before enforcement can reach them. Remoteness is their greatest advantage.

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Ghost Nets and Abandoned Gear

Discarded nets strangle coral colonies and ensnare everything from lobsters to green sea turtles, catching indiscriminately long after the boats that set them are gone.

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Pressure on Nesting Grounds

Sea turtle nesting and breeding is disrupted by illegal access, boat traffic, and gear entanglement during critical reproductive periods.

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Illegal Recreational Access

Vessels without permits cause anchor damage, spear fishing, and line fishing inside sanctuary boundaries. Routine battles for our crews.