Antarctic krill daily transfers 0.3 million tons of carbon to the deep ocean, which is equal to the United Kingdom’s daily CO2 emissions, yet they face growing threats.
To inform decision-makers and ultimately safeguard one of the planet’s most vital yet overlooked species, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the University of Strathclyde, and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have joined forces to determine whether we can monitor Antarctic krill from space via satellites.
Krill is considered the ‘Superheroes of the Southern Ocean,” a foundation for marine food webs above the seabed, sustaining penguins, seals, and the world’s largest animals, including blue whales. Additionally, the creature that may be no bigger than your little finger, but collectively they are a powerhouse, transfer carbon to the deep ocean by eating and excreting phytoplankton and by regularly shedding their exoskeletons.
The Krill from Space project uses a method to compare light patterns, combined with current and historical satellite and remote sensing data, to better understand the distribution and population of krill across time and space. Ocean color satellites have provided daily global monitoring of the world ocean since 1997.
However, scientists recently made a breakthrough by being able to identify a signal associated with the pigment that turns krill red, and Dr Cait McCarry from Strathclyde recently returned from an expedition to Antarctica where she was sampling live krill.
Despite their importance in the ocean ecosystem, as sea temperatures rise and krill nurseries lose their protective sea ice, essential for krill nurseries, their populations are shrinking and shifting south.
Rod Downie, chief polar advisor at WWF-UK said, “They are the reason why humpback whales migrate thousands of miles every year to feed in the icy waters around Antarctica. And play a critical role in drawing down carbon from the ocean’s surface.”
He further highlighted that climate change and unsustainable fishing are putting them at risk. “With sea ice declining and industrial fishing growing, we urgently need to manage the fishery better and protect krill habitats within a network of marine protected areas. ‘Krill from Space’ may give us a new tool to help monitor and safeguard this vital species.”
The ‘Krill from Space’ project has the potential to shape global conservation policies by providing real-time data on krill populations. Introduced at COP26 in Baku, the initiative could support efforts to regulate krill fishing, enforce sustainable practices, and push for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Southern Ocean.
With industrial fishing and climate change threatening krill habitats, policymakers can use this technology to track population shifts and strengthen conservation efforts.
Additionally, recognizing krill’s role in carbon sequestration could lead to new climate finance mechanisms that integrate ocean protection into carbon offset strategies, ensuring long-term sustainability for marine ecosystems.
