Antarctic Fisheries
The climate crisis is influencing the Southern Ocean and its ecosystems. At this time of rapid change, ASOC advocates for a precautionary approach to Antarctic fisheries, supporting resilient ecosystems into the future.
What’s happening?
Antarctic Fisheries
Many species unique to the Southern Ocean have been, or continue to be commercially fished in the waters around Antarctica. Today, the primary species targeted by Antarctic fisheries are Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and both Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides and Dissostichus mawsoni).
There are several challenges related to regulating Antarctic fisheries. These include preventing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, reducing bycatch, and both setting and enforcing catch limits to safeguard the ongoing health and resilience of Antarctic ecosystems.

Antarctic krill
Antarctic Fisheries
One area of particular importance today is the Antarctic krill fishery. Antarctic krill are a keystone species within the Antarctic marine ecosystem, and a vital food source for most Antarctic predators from penguins to seals and whales.
More than half of the Antarctic krill population (up to 70 percent) lives in a relatively small region of the Southern Ocean, which has become the focus of the modern krill fishery. This area is also a climate crisis hotspot, and one of the most rapidly changing ecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere.
Fisheries in climate hotspots
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Off the coast of the west Antarctic Peninsula, summer sea surface temperatures have increased by over 1.8°F (1°C) since 1955, and the winter sea ice duration declined by almost 100 days between 1978 and 2014. Around the same time, several Adélie penguin colonies in the area vanished, and many others declined in size. These changes appear to be linked to reduced availability of krill in nearby waters.
Exactly how all of these changes are related is an area of current research. More data is needed to understand the complex changes taking place in this vulnerable ecosystem, and ensure that human activity will not adversely affect the krill populations, the predators that depend on them or the broader ecosystem.

ANTARCTIC FISHERIES
What ASOC is doing
ASOC advocates for science-based policies that promote vibrant, resilient Antarctic ecosystems into the future. We actively support strong, enforceable regulation of Antarctic fisheries at the highest level of Antarctic governance.
ANTARCTIC FISHERIES
How we work
As the only environmental NGO invited to observe Antarctic Treaty meetings, we represent the Antarctic conservation community at the highest levels of Antarctic governance. We work within the system to support effective regulation of Antarctic fisheries in the following ways.

Protection
ASOC strongly supports the establishment of a representative network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across the Southern Ocean.

Advocacy
ASOC monitors all issues that impact the Antarctic including fisheries management, biological prospecting and pirate fishing.

Liability
ASOC advocates for strengthening liability and accountability for states and operators who cause damage to the Antarctic environment, threatening its land, waters, and species.

Protocol
ASOC supports the full and effective implementation of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.