ARK Commitment 2018-2023 Review Report

The Association of Responsible Krill Harvesting Companies (ARK) has completed its five-year review of the ARK Commitment (2018–2023), a voluntary industry initiative that introduced precautionary measures to safeguard Antarctic ecosystems. Central to this commitment are the Voluntary Restricted Zones (VRZs), which protect over 74,000 km² of critical penguin breeding habitat and provide seasonal refuge for recovering whale populations. The review confirms high compliance with these measures and highlights their recognition by CCAMLR as an important precautionary safeguard. Internationally, the VRZs have also been acknowledged as a “biodiversity-positive practice” by the UN CBD process. While further progress is needed on transshipment transparency and vessel safety, the Commitment demonstrates how industry-led action can reduce ecological risks and support sustainable fishing. ARK has pledged to maintain these measures until CCAMLR implements a permanent krill management plan or establishes a Marine Protected Area network in the region.