At the Our Ocean conference in Malta, Aker BioMarine pledged its commitment to support the Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund (AWR) with $1 million (EUR 830.000) over the next five years. The grant will further AWR’s work on promoting and facilitating research on the Antarctic ecosystem. 
 
“It is important for us to support krill-related research in order to protect the Antarctic krill biomass and its surrounding ecosystem,” said Matts Johansen, CEO at Aker BioMarine. 
“We need to have the science and data available to make educated decisions on how to take the best care of the ecosystem in which we work to safeguard the future of the Antarctic fishery.” 
 
“The funding is vital to continue with scientific research and ensure the long-term health of the ecosystem. Only through better understanding of the role of Antarctic krill in the Southern Ocean can we fully protect the animals that feed on krill and ensure precautionary fishery management,” said Claire Christian, the chair of AWR.  
 
AWR was established in 2015 by Aker BioMarine, the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) and WWF-Norway. The fund’s mission is to ensure a resilient Antarctica through filling critical gaps in ecosystem research and monitoring. 
 
Since its inception, AWR has funded in total eight research projects, with three projects receiving funds in 2015, two in 2016 and three in 2017. 
 
To learn more about the Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund and the research projects, please visit: http://www.antarcticfund.org/