Activist Vessel Collides With Krill Harvesting Vessel Off Antarctica

Activist Vessel Collides with Norwegian Krill Harvester Off Antarctica

Details and Implications of the Antarctic Collision

Incident Overview

By Nerijus Adomaitis

OSLO, April 1 (Reuters) - An environmental activist vessel collided with a Norwegian krill harvesting vessel near Antarctica on Tuesday, damaging its hull, the vessel's owner, Aker QRILL Company, said on Wednesday.

It said the Norway-flagged trawler Antarctic Sea was deliberately struck by Bandero, a 65-metre vessel operated by the Captain Paul Watson Foundation.

Extent of Damage and Immediate Response

Aker QRILL said Bandero struck near the stern of its vessel, where its diesel fuel tank sits, causing minor damage. It shared pictures and video of the incident with Reuters.

"If the steel plates (...) had ruptured, it could have caused a spill. It was probably just luck that it didn't cause more damage," its Chief Executive Webjoern Barstad told Reuters.

Before the collision, activists unsuccessfully attempted to damage the fishing nets of another krill harvester, Antarctic Endurance, he added.

Activist Foundation’s Perspective

Foundation’s Official Statement

FOUNDATION SAYS THE COLLISION WAS ACCIDENTAL

The foundation said in a reply to Reuters that it was "an accidental collision" and that it was committed to "lawful, responsible, non-violent action in defence of marine ecosystems".

Mission and Rationale

The Captain Paul Watson Foundation, set up in 2022 by Canadian anti-whaling activist Paul Watson, in a separate statement said it was trying to disrupt krill fishing in the feeding grounds of whales, seals and penguins.

"Krill are a foundational species, serving as the primary food for most marine life. Without krill the entire food chain would collapse," it added.

The foundation said Aker QRILL was the largest harvester of Antarctic krill, accounting for more than 60% of the total catch quota.

Industry Response

Barstad, however, said industrial vessels harvest only a small fraction of krill stocks.

Location, Crew, and Ownership

Incident Location and Crew Details

The incident occurred more than 500 miles (805 km) from the southern tip of Argentina. Nearly 60 crew members, including from Norway, Ukraine and the Philippines, were on board the trawler, the company said. No one was hurt.

Company Ownership

Aker QRILL is owned by U.S.-based American Industrial Partners and Norwegian billionaire Kjell Inge Roekke. On its website it says it is "the world's leading krill company".

(Reporting by Nerijus Adomaitis; editing by Barbara Lewis)