Krill’s role in global climate should inform fishing policy in Antarctica

Krill ' small crustaceans eaten by whales, seals and penguins ' play a vital role in removing carbon from the atmosphere, according to a new study. A study on how krill affect the Southern Ocean's ability to take in carbon from the atmosphere and bury it on the seafloor has revealed the small crustaceans play an outsized role in the process. Krill are eaten by larger animals in Antarctica such as whales, seals and penguins, but are also fished for food and fishing bait, and for use in aquaculture and dietary supplements. The Southern Ocean is one of the largest carbon sinks globally, so krill have an important influence on atmospheric carbon levels and therefore the global climate. Dr Emma Cavan The findings suggest those managing how krill are fished in the Southern Ocean, which surrounds Antarctica, should take krill's impact on carbon into account, although more research needs to be done to pick apart the process. Lead author Dr Emma Cavan from the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial completed the study while at the University of Tasmania. She said: "The Southern Ocean is one of the largest carbon sinks globally, so krill have an important influence on atmospheric carbon levels and therefore the global climate." The effect of harvesting krill.