Eco activists accused of ‘terrorist attack’ after Antarctic trawler rammed

WorldEnvironment
3 Apr 2026 • 6:37 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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A group of anti-whaling activists have been accused of carrying out a “terrorist attack” after they rammed a ship into a Norwegian krill trawler off Antarctica.

Footage shows the moment that the M/V Bandero hit the Aker QRILL Company fishing vessel on Tuesday (31 March).

The company said that the activists cut fishing lines and almost struck a diesel tank, which put the ocean habitat - full of whales, seals and seabirds - at risk of disaster.

“I would deem this a terrorist attack,” said Matts Johansen, Aker BioMarine CEO. “I mean, it is to cause harm. It is to cause fear. It's based on ideological or political views.”

Anti-whaling activist Paul Watson, who founded the Captain Paul Watson Foundation, disagreed and said the company was “overblowing” the incident. He said the action was carried out to “get their attention” and stop their “ecologically destructive operations”.

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