Watch the 2025 Campaign Video
Sea Shepherd has returned to Antarctica at a critical time. The balance of life in the Southern Ocean is under siege—not from harpoons this time, but from the industrial krill trawlers stripping away the base of the food web. These massive ships target krill by the ton, threatening the survival of humpbacks, fin whales, penguins, seals, and seabirds. In one confirmed case this year, a whale died in a krill trawl net.
Sea Shepherd’s legacy in Antarctica began with defending whales from illegal slaughter. Today, our focus has sharpened on defending their food source—not only for the whales, but for the future of this wild ocean. From the historic whaling station at Deception Island to the last living strongholds like the Gerlache Strait, we are the only ones on the water challenging this plunder in real time.
A Global Alliance to Protect the Southern Ocean
In 2025, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society joins forces with our international partners—
Sea Shepherd Global, Germany, Switzerland, and others—for our largest coordinated Antarctic campaign to date. We are bringing aboard expert whale researchers and krill ecologists to gather evidence, refute industry greenwashing, and advocate for permanent protection of biodiversity hotspots like the Gerlache Strait and the South Orkney Islands.
This campaign goes beyond documentation: it’s a movement to shift international policy and block future expansion of krill fisheries in already exploited waters.
On board with us this season is marine scientist Carmella Re, continuing a 30-year study on whale populations. She is using modern photo-ID methods to re-identify whales her mentor first cataloged decades ago.But today, she must navigate through active krill trawlers and their massive nets—
now the primary threat to the species she studies.
This isn’t just a research trip. It’s a frontline mission to preserve the data, the habitat, and the whales themselves.
On Deception Island, once the center of Antarctic whaling, Sea Shepherd’s crew stood surrounded by rusted try pots and broken bones— remnants of a slaughter that nearly wiped out entire species. Today, the same waters are being exploited again. Not with harpoons, but with nets that remove the whales’ food.
History is repeating itself—but this time, Sea Shepherd is on the water to stop it before it’s too late.
TAKE ACTION
SMALL CHANGES. MASSIVE IMPACT.
Expose the industry. Share the facts. Push back against krill exploitation.
Industrial krill trawlers are stripping life from the Southern Ocean—stealing food from whales, penguins, and every species that depends on this fragile ecosystem. Visit our toolkit to expose the truth behind this destructive industry. Learn how these ships operate, who profits, and how you can help stop the collapse of Antarctica’s food chain. Knowledge is power—use it to defend what’s left.
Skip the pills made from whale food. Choose algae-based omega-3 instead.
To disrupt the demand driving industrial krill fishing, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society has proudly partnered with Ashlan & Philippe Cousteau to promote SEAVOIR, their algae-based Omega-3 supplement. By choosing SEAVOIR, you protect marine ecosystems and support Sea Shepherd’s vital campaigns in Antarctica. A portion of every purchase fuels the fight to safeguard our oceans. Pre-orders open January 3rd.
Put our crews on the frontlines. Power direct action at sea.
Donate to Sea Shepherd
Support the crew exposing this destruction in real time. Your donation keeps our ships on the water, fuels high-impact campaigns, and strengthens our push for protections all around the world. With your help, we can confront the krill industry and defend the species that depend on this fragile ecosystem.
Support the crew exposing this destruction in real time. Your donation keeps our ships on the water, fuels high-impact campaigns, and strengthens our push for protections all around the world. With your help, we can confront the krill industry and defend the species that depend on this fragile ecosystem.
