Big Week of Action in Hobart to End Industrial Krill Fishing
WePlanet Australia and the Bob Brown Foundation rallied outside the annual CCAMLR (Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) meeting in Hobart.
It's time to end industrial krill fishing in the Southern Ocean.
WePlanet Australia was on the ground in Hobart for week one of the annual meeting of CCAMLR, the international body responsible for conserving the marine life and ecosystems of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.
Each morning, alongside the Bob Brown Foundation, we rallied to send delegates a clear message: it's time to end industrial krill fishing.
Krill fishing takes food away from whales, just as their populations are starting to recover from the devastating impacts of commercial whaling last century. It also puts additional pressure on penguins, seals and other wildlife that depend on krill.
But the impacts go beyond wildlife. Krill also play an important role in the Earth's carbon cycle, helping the ocean absorb and store carbon. At a time when climate change is putting growing pressure on our planet, protecting this natural process is more important than ever.
This is an international WePlanet campaign, bringing together supporters and campaigners from WePlanet UK, WePlanet Norway and WePlanet Australia.
On Monday 19th Oct, WePlanet Norway published an open letter calling on Norway to end krill fishing in the Southern Ocean, placing the issue directly in front of the Norwegian public through one of the country's largest print newspapers.
WePlanet Australia successfully delivered WePlanet UK's petition, signed by more than 13,000 people, to Robbie Bulloch, Chair of CCAMLR and the UK's Director of Overseas Territories, Ocean and Polar Regions. Alongside the petition, we presented a report containing dozens of personal messages from supporters who want to see the Southern Ocean protected.
This is the power of a global environmental movement. By working together across borders, we can put pressure on governments and industries, challenge the status quo and fight for a better future for people and nature.
And none of this would be possible without our supporters.
Whether you've signed a petition, shared our campaign or become a monthly donor, you're helping us build a movement that isn't afraid to stand up for nature and demand change.
From the whole WePlanet team, thank you. We couldn't do this without you.