Ecologists fear Antarctic krill crisis

Over fishing and climate change are threatening Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) which is one of the largest protein sources on earth.The importance of krill to the global ecosystem cannot be ignored, but fishing practices are putting too much pressure on krill populations, as this species is collected as a food source for commercial fish-farming feed, as well as for derivatives used in dietary and medical products . Estimates of the drop in krill population within the Southern ocean are showing a decline in krill close to 80% since the 1970's. The impact of climate change is also thought to be contributing to this decline.