Antarctic Krill Found in Waters 300 Meters Deep
Saturday, March 15th, 2008Scientists were recently surprised to learn that Antarctic Krill can survive and thrive at depths down to 3000 meters (9,800 feet), as well as in the surface waters where they abound in vast numbers. This discovery completely changes scientists’ understanding of this major food source for Fish, Squid, Penguins, Seals and Whales. Krill spawn in the surface waters, and were thought to live only in depths down to 150 meters. Krill is used for everything from heart medicines to fish feed, with catch totals reaching about 120,000 tons each year. The British Antarctic Survey calculated that the total biomass of Antarctic krill is between 50-150 million tons. Scientists are concerned that krill stocks have declined sharply since the 1970’s, apparently due to the decline in winter sea ice. To read the full story CLICK HERE



