Develop methods for the co-existence of large baleen whales with a sustainable krill fishery

Antarctic krill fishing started in the 1970s and has undergone a gradual increase in activity over recent decades. For the very first time, three incidental mortalities of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) were reported during the 2020-21 fishing season due to interactions with the fishing gear, and one more case was reported in the 2021-22 season. Preventive measures have been implemented such as the installation of reinforced marine mammal exclusion nets in the mouth of the trawls as well as underwater acoustic transmitters to deter whales from approaching the trawl gear. It remains uncertain how effective current methods are, and we therefore call for discussions about opportunities for further measures and identification of knowledge gaps. The objective would be for these discussions to lead to the establishment of a future work program to help determine the best available and relevant solutions to maintain a co-existence of large baleen whales with a sustainable krill fishery.