A vessel operated by Fundação Capitão Paul Watson collided with a Norwegian krill fishing boat Oceano Antártico on 31 March. The incident occurred near Península Antártica and involved the vessel M/V Bandero and the vessel Antarctic Sea, owned by company Aker QRILL Company. The owners of the fishing boat classified the event as a deliberate attack that put the crew and the region’s sensitive environment at risk. The collision happened after a standoff lasting several hours between the two vessels.
- The recorded video shows Bandero approaching the stern of the fishing boat and touching its port side at a slight angle.
- The crew of the Norwegian boat remained unharmed, but reported emotional distress after the incident.
- Naval authorities at Argentina and Chile were notified of the incident.
Details of the collision captured on video
The two-minute recording given to the international press captures the moment when M/V Bandero slowly moves towards the Norwegian vessel. The approach results in contact with the side of the fishing boat, causing minor damage to the paintwork and external structure. The company Aker QRILL reported that the activist ship came within a few centimeters of hitting the diesel tank, which could have caused a leak in an area of great ecological importance.
The fishing boat’s multinational crew was shaken by the situation. The Norwegian company plans to take all available legal measures to hold those involved accountable. Navios patrol from one of the notified countries have already moved to the waters close to the incident site.
Environmental context of Antarctic krill
Antarctic krill serves as a food base for whales, seals and seabirds that inhabit the region. Esse small crustacean also acts as an important element in the balance of the marine ecosystem sensitive to global warming. Industrial fishing for this resource has grown in recent years and generates debates about its sustainability in Antarctic waters.
Aker QRILL Company is one of the main operators of krill capture in Antártida. Seus ships operate in the extraction of the crustacean for the production of food supplements and fishmeal. The sector argues that the activity follows international management standards for the region.
Versions of the parties involved about the incident
The CEO of Aker Biomarine, Matts Johansen, described the collision as an intentional act based on ideological views. Ele compared the episode to a terrorist attack and highlighted that this was the first such incident in Oceano Antártico in over a decade. The company reinforced that the event does not match the way Antártida should be managed.
On the activist side, founder Paul Watson downplayed the contact and classified it as a deliberate but controlled push. Ele stated that the action followed principles of aggressive non-violence practiced for decades on the high seas. The crew of Bandero, led by French activist Lamiya Essemlali, assured that they were careful not to injure anyone and that the damage was limited to paint chips.
History of operation and activism
M/V Bandero departed Austrália in February as part of call Krill from Krill. The mission seeks to disrupt industrial fishing for the crustacean in the Antarctic region. Antes after the collision, the activist vessel maintained a five-hour standoff with two boats from Aker QRILL and used metallic devices to affect the fishing nets.
Paul Watson founded Sea Shepherd in the 1970s and has a history of direct actions in defense of marine species. Ele has faced arrests in different countries, including detention in Groenlândia in 2024 at the request of Japão, later rejected by Dinamarca. Fundação Capitão Paul Watson continues marine conservation campaigns in various parts of the world.
Measures adopted after the shock
The Norwegian company immediately notified the competent authorities. One of the countries involved sent vessels to monitor the area close to Península Antártica. The krill fishing crew reported that the environmental risk was avoided by a narrow margin, but reinforced the need for effective protection of the region.
The incident highlights growing tensions between conservation groups and the fishing industry in the global south. Ambas The parties maintain firm positions on the future of krill harvesting activity in Antarctic waters.
