A confrontation in the remote Antarctic waters has escalated dramatically after an activist ship operated by the Captain Paul Watson Foundation collided with a Norwegian krill trawler. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, has led to accusations by the trawler's owner, Aker QRILL Co., of a deliberate attack that endangered its crew and threatened the fragile marine ecosystem.
Video Evidence and Accusations
A two-minute video provided to The Associated Press by Aker QRILL Co. captures the moment when the M/V Bandero, under the foundation's operation, slowly approached the stern of the fishing vessel, the Norwegian-flagged Antarctic Sea, striking its port side at a slight angle. Aker CEO Webjørn Barstad stated that the Bandero came within centimeters of hitting a diesel tank, which could have caused significant environmental damage in an area teeming with whales, seals, and seabirds.
The company emphasized that its multinational crew was shaken but unharmed, and it plans to pursue all available legal actions. "Our crew were put at risk in some of the most remote waters on Earth, and only luck avoided potential environmental damage," Barstad said in a statement.
Activist Response and Tactics
The Captain Paul Watson Foundation did not respond to AP's request for comment on Aker's accusations. However, in its own news release, the foundation characterized its actions as "aggressive nonviolence." It claimed that during a five-hour "direct intervention" against two Aker-owned vessels, led by French activist Lamya Essemlali, it successfully disrupted all krill fishing activities.
The foundation provided images showing crew members launching giant metal net shredding devices designed to hinder fishing operations. It also highlighted that the crew witnessed Antarctic wildlife, including penguins, seals, and a whale, during the encounter, framing it as a David-and-Goliath scenario against industrial fishing.
Background on Paul Watson
Paul Watson, the founder of the global Sea Shepherd conservation movement in the 1970s, has a long history of aggressive tactics, including ramming vessels, which have repeatedly landed him in legal trouble. His most recent detention was in Greenland in 2024 on a Japanese warrant, later rejected by Denmark, related to a 2010 incident involving explosives.
While Watson has garnered support from Hollywood celebrities, his hard-line approach has divided the conservation movement. Some affiliates, like those in France and Brazil, support his new foundation, while Sea Shepherd Global and 20 national affiliates focus on patrols, policy action, and aiding law enforcement in regions with rampant illegal fishing.
Growing Battle Over Antarctic Krill
This collision underscores the intensifying conflict in the Southern Ocean over Antarctic krill, a shrimplike crustacean vital to whale diets and a buffer against global warming. Krill is increasingly sought after for health supplements, fishmeal, and other products, with fishing reaching record levels last season, prompting an early closure for the first time.
Aker is the world's largest harvester of krill, responsible for over half of the global catch. The fishery is managed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, an international body comprising 27 nations and the European Union.
Legal and Investigative Implications
Any investigation into the incident, including potential criminal prosecution, is likely to begin at the Mongolia-flagged Bandero's next port of call. Under international maritime law, an overtaking vessel must stay clear of nearby ships. The Bandero is named after a tequila company owned by American billionaire John Paul DeJoria, a longtime supporter of Watson's endeavors.
This story was supported by funding from the Walton Family Foundation, with the AP solely responsible for all content. For further information, contact AP's global investigative team.
