A vessel operated by the Captain Paul Watson Foundation collided with a Norwegian krill trawler in Antarctic waters on March 31, 2026. The trawler’s owner has described the incident as a “deliberate attack” that endangered the crew and risked a disaster in a sensitive ecological area.

Collision Details and Allegations

A two-minute video released by Aker QRILL Co. shows the M/V Bandero, operated by the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, approaching the Antarctic Sea and making contact with its port side. Aker QRILL CEO Matts Johansen likened the ramming to a “terrorist attack,” stating it was intended to cause harm based on ideological views.

The company reported the Bandero came dangerously close to hitting a diesel tank and jeopardized a habitat rich in whales, seals, and seabirds. Aker alerted naval authorities in Argentina and Chile, with one nation deploying a vessel to the area near the Antarctic peninsula.

Activist Response and Operation Krill Wars

Paul Watson, founder of the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, disputed the accusations, characterizing the incident as “aggressive nonviolence” and claiming only paint was scraped off the trawler. He criticized Aker’s krill fishing practices as “incredibly destructive.”

The Bandero, crewed by French activist Lamya Essemlali, began “Operation Krill Wars” departing from Australia in February. Prior to the collision, the crew launched devices designed to disrupt the fishing operations of two Aker vessels during a five-hour standoff.

Background on Paul Watson and Sea Shepherd

Paul Watson is known for founding the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in the 1970s and employing aggressive tactics in ocean conservation efforts. He has faced legal issues in the past, including accusations of ordering the use of explosives against a whaling ship in 2010.

While Watson retains support from some, his methods have led to divisions within the conservation movement. Some affiliates have aligned with his new foundation, while others, like Sea Shepherd Global, focus on different approaches.

Krill Fishing and Antarctic Management

Fishing for Antarctic krill reached a record high last season, leading to an unprecedented early closure of the fishery. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), an international body, manages the fishery.

CCAMLR has been struggling to establish a new framework for krill fishing that would balance increased quotas with environmental protections and the creation of a large marine reserve along the Antarctic Peninsula. Any investigation into the collision will likely begin at the Bandero’s next port of call, adhering to international maritime law.