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Antarctic Krill Conservation ProjectPhoto Collage: Krill image courtesy of Uwe Kils — http://www.uwekils.de/ecoscope/krill/index.htm
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This small shrimp-like organism may weigh little more than a large paper clip, but its crucial role in the icy Antarctic ecosystem is indisputable.

The Latest...

  • AKCP presentation details importance of dispersing the krill fishery
    This presentation by the Antarctic Krill Conservation Project during the recent annual meeting of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) describes how krill trawlers have learned to target aggregations of krill, just like the Antarctic species that rely upon krill as a major food source. Subdividing krill catch limits so that regulations are placed on trawlers to prevent them from overlapping so heavily with foraging areas would provide interim protection for predators such as chinstrap penguins as catches of krill increase. Download the presentation as a PDF or a PowerPoint file.

  • Penguins
  • AKCP Urges Antarctic Fisheries Commission to Protect Whales, Penguins, Seals and Krill
    The Pew Environment Group today called on the world's governing body for conserving Antarctic marine life to geographically spread out krill catches in the Southern Ocean. This would prevent the concentration of the fishery from significantly reducing the amount of krill available for key predators including whales, penguins and seals. Read the press release and listen to the press briefing.


  • Antarctic Landscape
  • Antarctic Treaty celebrates 50th anniversary of Treaty signing
    The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) - the major annual diplomatic event related to Antarctica – kicks off its annual meeting today, April 6th, 2009. The AKCP calls on signatories to the Treaty to fully reengage on the critical issues impacting the Antarctica and to Antarctic krill, the keystone species of the Antarctic food chain. Read the AKCP's press release from opening day of this momentous meeting.




  • News Archive


    Our Last Great Wilderness Is In Danger

    Antarctica is the last great wilderness and home to exceptional concentrations of wildlife, including penguins, whales, seals and albatrosses. Though small in stature, krill's role in the region's ecosystem is enormous. "Krill are the glue that binds the Antarctic food web," serving as the principal food source for predator species that live there. Increasing interest in krill as fish food for industrially farmed fish, and for its high-value oils used in nutritional supplements, is triggering an expansion of the fishery that could outpace efforts to protect predators that depend on krill.

    In addition, krill populations are very vulnerable to climate change, which risks profound impacts for Antarctica. With an agreed statement of principles and core goals to guide its work, the Antarctic Krill Conservation Project has enumerated core elements of an ecosystem-based management package [PDF] that are needed for the Antarctic krill fishery. Looking to the future, without these and other reforms, we risk irreversible harm to this unique and wonderful wilderness.

    Antarctic Krill Conservation Project

    This network of international organizations is dedicated to the protection of Antarctic krill to help conserve the region's marine ecosystem and living resources. It is a cooperative effort worldwide, working with CCAMLR nations, scientists and other key stakeholders. Please join us as we seek to protect this small, but vital species.

    Icescape photo courtesy U.S. Antarctic Program

    Krill Library

Outline of Antarctica

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Krill News

Penguins in Antarctica to be replaced by jellyfish due to global warming
The Telegraph
February 19, 2010

Frontier scientists track whales in the ice
The Age (Australia)
January 4, 2010

Fading sea ice bares a scary future
Cape Cod Times
December 29, 2009

'Climategate' claims ignore science, facts
Inforum
December 29, 2009

Audio Slideshow: The Last Penguin
New Yorker
December 21, 2009

One good treaty deserves another
Fresno Bee
December 7, 2009

China eyes Antarctic as fishing frontier
Shanghai Daily
December 7, 2009

Antarctic melt to feed global sea rise
AFP
December 1, 2009

W. Antarctic melt to have big impact on rising sea
Reuters
December 1, 2009

Specialists call to strengthen regulation of Antarctic krill [in Spanish]
PESCA al dia
November 2, 2009

Urgent conservation needed for Antarctic marine ecosystem [in Korean]
KyungHyang Newspaper
November 2, 2009

Antarctic Fisheries Commission urged to control krill fishery
Reuters
October 29, 2009

To protect penguins, protect krill -marine experts
Reuters
October 29, 2009

Pew Urges Antarctic Fisheries Commission to Protect Whales, Penguins, Seals and Krill
fishnewseu.com
October 29, 2009

Pew Environment Group to Host Press Call on Efforts to Protect Whales, Penguins, Seals and Krill
Pew Environment Group
October 26, 2009

Call for support on divided management system to be proposed at annual meeting of CCAMLR [PDF]
(in Japanese)
October 1, 2009

Half the World's Fish Meals Are Farmed Fish, Fed on Wild Fish
Environment News Service
September 8, 2009

Krill may give seal of approval to new fishery
The Sydney Morning Herald
August 14, 2009

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