Overview

• The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources halted the 2024–25 krill season after cumulative landings topped the 620,000-metric-ton cap for the first time.
• A failure by the U.S., Russia, China and other member nations to approve a revised management plan last year allowed industrial fleets to fish without geographic limits.
• Trawlers concentrated effort near the Antarctic Peninsula led to a nearly 60% surge in catch at one hotspot and contributed to serious injury or death among humpback whales.
• Krill depletion threatens a crucial carbon sink that stores about 20 million tons of CO₂ annually and underpins food webs supporting whales, penguins and seals.
• With no new framework in place, CCAMLR faces uncertainty over spatial protections and catch-distribution measures for upcoming seasons.