On the afternoon Tuesday, 31. March, the Bandero deliberately collided into the stern port side of the Antarctic Sea, a vessel operated by Aker QRILL Company. The vessel had previously attempted to destroy the trawl gear of a second company vessel by deploying grappling hooks into the fishing gear. Both actions were recorded on video.
The point of impact was directly above a diesel fuel tank. The Antarctic Sea was operating many days away from the nearest port or rescue capability. The crew was not injured but was put in danger in these waters, where margins matter. If the activists had succeeded in disabling any of the vessels’ maneuverability, people and the environment would have been at risk due to the approaching severe weather.
“This is the result of a campaign built on claims that are not supported by any scientific picture, and on a self-defined sense of justice. But there is also a broader ecosystem at play, voices that amplify and reinforce these narratives. When a science-based, internationally governed fishery is consistently misrepresented, it creates a climate where confrontation begins to replace dialogue.
What we saw yesterday is a consequence of that dynamic. This is not constructive activism; it is reckless and dangerous behavior. It is the opposite of progress, and ultimately the opposite of what international Antarctic management needs.”
Webjørn Barstad, CEO, Aker QRILL Company
Aker QRILL Company operates under the oversight of CCAMLR, the 27-nation body that governs Antarctic fisheries. The fishery carries independent observers, operates within particularly precautionary catch limits, holds MSC certification and is generally considered among the most sustainable fisheries on the planet. Ramming a vessel in international waters is a criminal act. The company is in contact with the relevant authorities and will pursue all available legal channels.
We believe all actors engaged in Antarctic issues have a shared responsibility to support law and science-based processes and to be clear in distancing themselves from actions that undermine them.
About Aker QRILL Company
Aker QRILL Company is the world's leading Antarctic krill harvesting company, operating under the strict oversight of CCAMLR. The fishery is MSC-certified, harvests less than 1% of total krill biomass in Area 48 and carries independent observers on all vessels.
Media contact
Tormod Sandstø
Director of Communication
tormod.sandsto@qrill.com