Antarctic krill fishery closes months early amid increasing fishing pressure

The Southern Ocean krill fishery closed on Aug. 12 after hitting its 620,000-metric-ton catch limit months ahead of schedule, the second consecutive early closure following 2025's first-ever early shutdown. The limit, set in 1991 by CCAMLR to protect seals, whales, penguins, and other predators that depend on krill, is being reached faster because fishing fleets have grown and concentrated in the same areas where krill — and the animals that eat it — are most abundant.

Norway and China accounted for roughly 89% of 2025's catch, and both nations are pushing to expand quotas and fleets even as a management measure that once spread fishing effort across zones has lapsed without renewal. Norway floated, then withdrew, a proposal to abolish the trigger level entirely and nearly double catches, while its industry partner Aker BioMarine continues working toward the same goal ahead of October's CCAMLR meeting.

Scientists including the British Antarctic Survey's Simeon Hill warn that concentrated fishing near penguin foraging grounds during nesting season carries unknown risks, even though the aggregate catch limit was designed assuming catches would be spread out. Argentina and Chile are instead pushing for a marine protected area in the area where most fishing activity is now concentrated.

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