Acoustic tech to study Southern Ocean krill
As fisheries are starting to harvest krill resources to feed the world’s population, this must be done in a sustainable manner, based on accurate, scientific observations. Scientists at NOAA in the USA are now using sophisticated new acoustic technology to truly “see” krill in the Southern Ocean. How will this scientific research help conserve the Southern Ocean ecosystem?
Today, one-third of commercially important marine fish stocks in the ocean are suffering from the effects of overfishing. As krill is becoming an important supplement for fisheries looking to harvest new resources, sustainable management of krill fisheries has come to the fore.
Scientists at NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center in the USA are working to understand the interactions between krill, their predators and the fishery. This is done by using technology that combines acoustic Doppler current profiling and the capabilities of an echosounder in one device.
This is essential research, because in the ocean, even the smallest creature can have a large impact. Reaching just 6 cm in length, an individual Antarctic krill may seem insignificant in the vastness of the Southern Ocean, but together they form huge aggregations that can reach several kilometers in length and hundreds of meters in thickness. Antarctic krill are vital for the Southern Ocean ecosystem, feeding a host of marine animals including whales, seals, penguins and squid that either live in the Southern Ocean year-round or migrate there to feed on these tiny crustaceans.
A balancing act for krill fisheries
The Southern Ocean has seen some significant changes over the last few decades. With the climate crisis, waters are warming, losing oxygen and salinity, and acidifying – all putting pressure on krill. The region has also seen an increase in commercial fishing directed at krill. For the management body charged with managing the Southern Ocean, CCAMLR (The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources), it’s a balancing act between allowing a fishery to take enough krill to allow it to be commercially viable and leaving enough for predators to eat – and letting enough krill survive to keep reproducing – all under rapidly changing conditions…
Read the full story at Nortek
