India plans to start fishing for krill in the Southern Ocean

Chennai: India may soon enter the global commercial krill fishing industry by starting operations in the Antarctic or Southern Ocean. Officials said at least two Mumbai-based firms have come forward to launch operations, focusing on harvesting krill, a small crustacean rich in omega-3, used in aquaculture feed and health supplements."The firms may attempt krill fishing this summer season in the Southern Ocean, between Dec and Feb. Till now, we did not venture into fishing there because it requires huge investment. We have asked the companies to talk to those in other countries involved in fishing in the Southern Ocean. We will give them permits and also the Indian flag for their vessels," said M Ravichandran, secretary, ministry of earth sciences (MoES).Krill are small, shrimp-like crustaceans that play a vital role in the Antarctic food web, serving as a key food source for penguins, seals, whales, seabirds, and fish. They are harvested for omega-3-rich oils used in supplements and aquaculture. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) estimates their biomass at about 379 million tonnes.Countries such as South Korea, Japan, and China have long harvested krill under CCAMLR quotas. India holds fishing rights under the Antarctic Treaty System but has not used its quota until now. Indian companies currently import krill oil, mainly from Norway, to supply aquaculture farms. Domestic harvesting is expected to reduce reliance on imports.The Indian Antarctic Act 2022 and the Indian Antarctic Environmental Protection Rules provide the legal structure for permits. The ministry is coordinating with shipping, fisheries, and commerce ministries to enable private industry's entry.The firms are expected to charter ice-class vessels, register them under the Indian flag, and deploy them to the Southern Ocean. Vessels will process krill onboard, extracting omega-3 oils and packaging the product for export. Inspectors will monitor compliance with CCAMLR quotas."In the late 1990s, we undertook a krill expedition, which was scientific. Now industries are ready," said Thamban Meloth, director, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research.There has, however, been a global concern among environmentalists that krill fishing threatens Antarctic ecosystems due to overfishing, habitat loss, and climate change. CCAMLR has established two marine protected areas (MPAs) but four more proposed MPAs to conserve biodiversity have not materialised for years.