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Environment & Climate

Sylvia Earle urges end to Antarctic krill fishing amid quota talks

Associated Press reports that oceanographer Sylvia Earle is calling for an end to krill fishing as 27 governments negotiate quotas at CCAMLR talks in Australia.

The short version

  • Associated Press reports that oceanographer Sylvia Earle is calling for an end to krill fishing near Antarctica.[Associated Press]
  • Officials from the U.S., China, Russia and 24 other governments are negotiating possible expanded krill quotas at CCAMLR talks in Australia.[Associated Press]
  • Talks have been deadlocked for years between an industry-backed quota expansion plan and a long-delayed marine protected area proposed by Argentina and Chile.[Associated Press]
  • Earle says no sustainable krill extraction is possible, while Aker QRILL's chairman says independent science supports the fishery's sustainability.[Associated Press]

Key facts

  • Sylvia Earle has called for an end to krill fishing near Antarctica.[Associated Press]
  • Officials from the U.S., China, Russia and 24 other governments are negotiating at the CCAMLR annual meeting in Australia.[Associated Press]
  • Krill fishing around Antarctica closed early in August for the second straight year after trawlers hit a 620,000 metric ton limit.[Associated Press]
  • The CCAMLR group has been deadlocked for years over an industry-backed plan to expand krill fishing and a proposed marine protected area.[Associated Press]
  • The proposed marine protected area near the Antarctic peninsula was first proposed a decade ago by Argentina and Chile.[Associated Press]
  • Matts Johansen, chairman of Aker QRILL, is attending the talks in Australia.[Associated Press]

What remains uncertain

  • Whether negotiators will expand krill quotas or approve the marine protected area is not reported.[Associated Press]
  • Earle's claim that no sustainable krill extraction is possible conflicts with the Aker QRILL chairman's statement that independent science supports the fishery.[Associated Press]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.