In the 21st century we have come to realise just how important the health of our oceans and seas are, and the Bob Brown Foundation (BBF) has backed an international call for a ban on industrial fishing in Antarctica, with a strong focus on krill fishing, at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice.
BBF Antarctic and Marine campaigner, Alistair Allan, is in Nice. Mr Allen says Australia’s Minister for the Environment Murray Watt is at the conference. ‘He should commit our country to ban krill fishing and industrial fishing in Antarctica and move to ban krill products and krill feed from being imported into Australia.’
Mr Allan joined calls to protect Antarctica’s marine ecosystem by notable figures such as National Geographic ocean explorer and conservationist Dr Sylvia Earle, Actor Benedict Cumberbatch, Captain Paul Watson, filmmaker Andy Mann, and the Speaker of the House from Tonga.
Krill the foundation of Antarctic ecosystem
‘Krill are the foundation of the Antarctic ecosystem but are caught to feed to factory farmed salmon, sold as supposed health capsules and for pet food,’ says Mr Allen. ‘It is an environmental crime happening on our watch that supertrawlers are plundering krill from the Antarctic Ocean.
‘In 2023, after Bob Brown Foundation released footage of krill supertrawlers ploughing through pods of whales in Antarctica as part of an exposé of the industry, the then Environment Minister Plibersek said Australia supported stronger protection for krill.
Propose a ban on krill fishing
Mr Allen says now is the time for the Australian Government to propose a ban on krill fishing in Antarctica at this year’s Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic and Marine Living Resources ( CCAMLR ) meeting, to be held in Hobart.
‘The new federal Environment Minister, Murray Watt, is here at the UN conference in Nice. He should use the opportunity to commit to banning krill fishing and industrial fishing in Antarctica and he must also ban krill products and krill feed from being imported into Australia.’
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