Antarctic research projects awarded funding to strengthen ecosystem science

The Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund (AWR) has awarded funds to new research projects designed to improve scientific understanding of the Antarctic ecosystem

OSLO, NORWAY, October 23, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The three projects were announced on 21 October during the annual meeting of the Commission for the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in Hobart, Tasmania.
The projects were selected from 10 proposals requesting a total of USD 736,808 in AWR’s 12th Call for
Proposals. The successful projects will examine the three-dimensional distribution of krill, whales and
fishing activity, develop technology for improved monitoring of krill, and assess the health of major krill
consumers.

Projects receiving funding
• 3D distribution of krill, whales and fishing in Subarea 48.1
Julie Mestre • CEBC-CNRS, France • USD 90,000
The research will provide a three-dimensional view of overlap between krill, whales and fishing
activity.

• Next-generation stereo-camera system for krill length monitoring
Bjørn Krafft • Institute of Marine Research, Norway • USD 94,000
The project will develop a stereo-camera system aimed at improving scalable monitoring of krill
length.

• Health assessment of major krill consumers
Holly Fearnbach • SR3 / Simon Fraser University, Canada • USD 36,750
The project will integrate body-condition and biological data to improve knowledge about major krill
consumers.


Science supporting ecosystem-based management
The Antarctic ecosystem is uniquely dependent on Antarctic krill, an important food source for species
ranging from fish to blue whales. AWR helps address scientific uncertainties around krill, krill predators
and the wider ecosystem, providing knowledge that can contribute to the long-term management of the
fishery.

Since 2015, AWR has supported research spanning krill biology, predator ecology, monitoring technology
and interactions between the ecosystem and fishing activity. With the three projects selected in 2026,
AWR’s portfolio comprises 29 funded projects and USD 2,004,514 in funding.

“Good management depends on good science. These three projects address important
knowledge and monitoring needs, from understanding where krill, whales and fishing activity
overlap to developing better monitoring technology and assessing the health of krill predators.
This is exactly the type of practical, independent research AWR was established to support.”,
said Rodolfo Werner, Scientific Advisor and Board Member, Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund (AWR).

About the Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund
The Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund facilitates and promotes research on the Antarctic ecosystem. Its
mission is to fill critical gaps in research and monitoring to improve the management of the Antarctic krill
fishery.
More information: www.antarcticfund.org
Media contact: Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund • info@antarcticfund.org

Pål Skogrand
The Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund (AWR)
+47 24 13 42 15
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