11 August 2022

Press Release

For immediate release

World Krill Day: The superheroes of the Southern Ocean are vital in the fight against climate change

WWF is shining a light on these vital species on the first ever World Krill Day on August 11

Krill are a key species in Antarctic marine ecosystems and are vulnerable to climate change and unsustainable fishing
They also play a critical role in drawing down and storing vast quantities of carbon

To mark the first ever World Krill Day on August 11, WWF is shining a light on these superheroes of the Southern Ocean that are at the forefront of the climate crisis.

The Southern Ocean – the home of Antarctic krill – is one of the planet’s largest carbon sinks and krill play a critical role in drawing down and storing vast quantities of carbon. Over the entire ocean, these tiny creatures which individually are no bigger than your little finger may collectively transfer 0.3 million tonnes of carbon daily - equivalent to the daily domestic CO2 emissions of the UK, by eating and excreting phytoplankton and by regularly shedding their exoskeletons.

Antarctic krill are adapted to cold water but due to rising sea temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Arc region, the sea-ice which protects krill nurseries is declining, and krill distribution is shrinking southwards.

On World Krill Day, WWF is calling for progress at the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) on a Marine Protected Area (MPA) network in the Southern Ocean, incorporating key krill and ‘blue carbon’ habitats.

Rod Downie, Chief Polar Adviser at WWF-UK, said: “Antarctic Krill are one of the most amazing species on our planet. These unsung heroes are the ‘centre of life’ above the ocean floor, feeding vast populations of penguins, seals and other marine life. Antarctic blue whales – the largest animals on Earth, depend on krill.

They also play a critical role in drawing down and storing vast quantities of carbon into the deep ocean, helping to maintain a stable climate.

But changes in krill distribution and a growing interest from the fishing industry necessitates rapid action towards a network of marine protected areas incorporating krill habitat to support biodiversity and climate stability.

We need to work with nature, not against it, in the fight against climate change.”

Antarctic krill are the central component of the Antarctic food web above the sea floor and are important globally due to the direct dependency on krill of significant marine wildlife including migratory great whales and penguins. Krill are the reason humpback whales migrate thousands of miles to the Southern Ocean every austral summer.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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