Antarctic animals are under threat from illegal fishing

Animals in the oceans surrounding Antarctica are under increasing threat. Fishery management organisations and governments need to do more to eliminate illegal fishing and regulate better legal fishing in Southern Ocean and adjacent areas according to Professor John Croxall speaking today (17 Feb) at a special symposium – Conserving Migratory Marine Organisms: Protecting animals with ocean-sized habitats organised by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Charismatic creatures such as seabirds (albatross and petrels), fur seals and penguins are under greater competition to find food or are simply being killed by fishing gear. Professor Croxall, of the British Antarctic Survey, calls for more action from governments and fishery management organisations to take action to deal with this threatening situation.

He argues that scientific measures taken to protect the unique marine resources of the oceans surrounding Antarctica should be extended to wider areas. During the last five years, the application of scientific research has led to a dramatic reduction in the number of Antarctic seabirds killed from longline fisheries.