AWR 12th call for proposals (2026)
THE CALL FOR proposals IS NOW OPEN. DEADLINE 1 April 2026
Strengthening the ecosystem-based management approach
Since the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources was first agreed in May 1980, it has been incumbent upon Members to conserve Antarctic marine living resources, whilst also allowing rational use. Under this Convention, fisheries management must therefore prevent any fishery-induced change to the marine ecosystem, or minimize the risk of any such change, that is not potentially reversible over two to three decades. Therefore, when making decisions about potential management actions, CCAMLR must take into account the state of available knowledge (see Convention text).
The commercial fishery for Antarctic krill is currently managed under a series of measures that are aimed at being precautionary. CCAMLR has initiated a program of work that it is hoped will develop a feedback management approach, using decision rules to adjust selected activities (including for example, the distribution and level of krill catch) in response to the state of monitored indicators, while maintaining a precautionary approach and taking into account spatial and temporal ecosystem structure.
In undertaking such a program of work, CCAMLR has recognized that there are many gaps in knowledge, but that monitored indicators might be used to: (i) provide advance warning about the potential risks of fishing and to advise on requirements for further precaution and/or focused future research and monitoring investments; (ii) adjust catch limits and the spatial distribution of catches; and (iii) characterize long-term changes in the ecosystem to facilitate strategic decision making.
AWR and research projects
The Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund (hereafter AWR) wishes to contribute to and support the work of CCAMLR so that the Antarctic krill fishery is managed in a manner consistent with the precautionary approach detailed in the Convention text. The aims of the AWR have therefore been developed to be consistent with the work of CCAMLR.
It is envisaged that any research and monitoring work supported by the AWR will build, incrementally, towards a new management approach for the krill fishery. Funded work should therefore support, rather than replace, the work of CCAMLR. In developing research proposals for consideration by the AWR, it is hoped that projects will be collaborative in nature, including between scientists from different CCAMLR Members, between scientists and krill fishing companies and between government and non-governmental scientists.
Each grant will be for a specific piece of work, and no long-term commitment to any individual or group should be assumed. The AWR is competitive and only proposals that are judged to provide excellent science and to fit the aims of the fund will be considered. Applicants should ensure that their proposals are cost effective, and cost-sharing is encouraged when possible. Where appropriate, the track record of project proponents will be taken into consideration. The inclusion of students or early career scientists is encouraged. All proposals should be presented on the official project application form.
In supporting the development of a feedback management approach for the krill fishery, the AWR wishes to fund work that will increase understanding about how the Antarctic marine ecosystem operates and how it might be characterised as a set of indicators for use by managers. Such work might involve desk or field studies to fill critical knowledge gaps or provide early warning signals about future ecological change.
As such, AWR encourages the proponents to have a prior discussion and advice from CCAMLR scientists on how the new knowledge generated from the proposed project can best inform and be utilized in CCAMLR’s ecosystem management framework. It is important that the project has clear scope for pathways to impact when developing any project proposal.
For the current round of funding ca USD $200 000 is available. It is unlikely that all of this amount will be awarded to a single project, though this may be possible for a particularly compelling proposal. Successful proposals might generally expect to receive in the order of USD $25,000 to USD $90,000.
PREFERRED RESEARCH PROJECTS FOR 11TH CALL
1) Krill biology and ecology to inform krill fishery management:
Research into krill life history parameters, such as growth, recruitment, and reproduction, is essential for informing the parameterisation of stock assessment models and setting precautionary catch limits for the krill fishery. Understanding the effects of environmental drivers on krill biology is also crucial.
Information on the seasonal distribution and migration of various krill life stages, as well as the connectivity of krill populations between regions and their dynamics, is crucial for determining the appropriate spatial and temporal scale of management. This helps to develop a stock hypothesis, enhancing our understanding of population dynamics and the different contributions of recruitment from neighbouring areas, such as from the Weddell Sea and the Bellingshausen Sea, to the Antarctic Peninsula.
2) Krill-Predator-Fishery Interaction:
At the Ecosystem Monitoring and Management (WG-EMM) working group meeting in 2025, it was identified that understanding the effects of krill fisheries on key krill-dependent predators in CCAMLR Subareas 48.1 and 48.2 (Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Sea) is of high relevance to the UN Decade initiative Antarctica InSync (https://www.antarctica-insync.org/) and CCAMLR’s work, which is scheduled from 2027 to 2030. Thus, by researching the structure and characteristics of krill swarms, the foraging behaviour of key krill predators such as penguins, seals, and whales, and the behaviour of the commercial krill fishery, we can improve our understanding of which types of krill swarms are preferred by both predators and fisheries. Furthermore, analysing the impact of predators and fishing activities on the structure of krill swarms, including their shape, density, size, and depth, will enhance our comprehension of the availability of krill to predators. In particular, winter and autumn are likely to be critical periods for impacts on predator foraging. This information will ultimately be used to develop management strategies that minimise the impact on krill availability for predators at a local scale.
3) Supporting the‘spatial overlap analysis’ (previously known as risk assessment) framework for krill fishery management:
The commercial krill fishery overlaps with the habitats and seasonal movements of natural krill predators, in both space and time, which could increase the risk of disproportionate impacts on some predators. Therefore, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) is working towards adopting a risk-based approach to minimise the likelihood of interactions between the fishery and krill predators. CCAMLR intends to apply this approach to allocate catch limits for krill in Subareas 48.1, 48.2, 48.3, and 48.4. Developing and improving data layers, especially for the winter season, and advancing the risk assessment process will be directly relevant to progressing CCAMLR’s current krill work plan.
4) Cutting-edge science to monitor krill for fishery management:
Enhancing the capability and utility of acoustic data collected from fishing vessels, autonomous remotely operated vehicles, and fixed mooring systems will likely provide valuable insights into krill distribution and abundance on both annual and inter-annual scales. This would be particularly significant in areas favoured by the fishery.
Other novel or exciting projects that utilise logistical assets of already funded projects may be considered, provided they closely align with the aims of the AWR.
General note
Applicants should give details about the proposed start and end dates of any proposal. Applicants should also provide specific dates by which outputs and products from the research will be produced. Successful proposals should preferably start as soon as possible.