9 April 2026 – Falklands – Acting Governor Brice of the Falkland Islands, has chosen to side with ecologically destructive krill fishing operations by denying the Captain Paul Watson Foundation vessel the Bandero access to Port Stanley for provisions, fuel, and crew relief.

This decision follows direct action taken by the Bandero crew against the Norwegian krill fishing company Aker Qrill, the largest krill harvesters in the world.

“The Governor’s decision was made without review and without offering the crew of the Bandero the opportunity to present their case: that they engaged in a non-violent protest against an industry contributing to the decline of whale, penguin, seal, and seabird populations in the Southern Ocean,” said Captain Paul Watson. “Industrial krill fishing operations remove hundreds of thousands of metric tonnes of krill each year, primarily to supply cheap protein feed for salmon farms. The price of cheap salmon is the starvation of whales, penguins, seals, and seabirds. This is an ecological time bomb.”

The salmon industry is eyeing the Falklands for potential expansion, marking the first attempt to establish industrial salmon farming in the region. However, the proposal faces strong opposition from local organizations and communities.

The Captain Paul Watson Foundation asserts that its actions are in accordance with the United Nations World Charter for Nature, adopted in 1982 and supported by the United Kingdom, which upholds the responsibility to safeguard natural ecosystems.

“The crew of the Bandero caused no injuries.” said Watson. “Their actions were limited to non-violent intervention aimed at disrupting destructive fishing practices in international waters, outside of British jurisdiction. Governor Colin Martin-Reynolds’ decision represents a politically biased stance, denying entry to a marine conservation vessel while effectively supporting the industrial exploitation of a keystone species critical to the Antarctic ecosystem.”

In an official statement, the Acting Governor stated:
“This order prohibits the vessel detailed in the schedule from entering the Falkland Islands territorial sea because the governor considers it necessary in the interests of issues of national interests.” Expanded as “necessary in the interests of defense or internal security or other issues of national interest.”

The Captain Paul Watson Foundation, alongside Sea Shepherd France and Sea Shepherd Brazil, formally request that the British Government grant the Bandero access to Port Stanley.

We request access to port for provisions, fuel, and crew relief. This request is directed to the Falklands Governor, the British Government and to His Majesty King Charles III.