Antarctic Krill: Powerhouse of the Southern Ocean
Antarctic krill send carbon to the deep ocean through the sinking of their faeces and by moulting their exoskeletons.
Krill in the Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Sea deliver carbon storage services worth an estimated US$15.2 billion per year. This is estimated to equal the sinking of 23 megatonnes of carbon annually.
As the Antarctic warms and krill fishing expands, we must prioritise improved protection of krill and krill predators, such as whales, penguins, seals, seabirds and fish.
WWF is calling for improved, internationally binding protection measures for krill populations by agreeing Marine Protected Areas and strengthening fisheries management regulations.