Krill
The Antarctic
krill is an especially crucial species as it is the primary source of food
for many of the higher species of carnivores, like the squid, fish, seals,
penguins and whales. Until recently when krill harvesting has become a
lucrative business for fishermen, the organism was in abundance, with an
estimated stock quantity of up to several hundred million tons.
Dramatic changes
in krill figures can lead to severe imbalances in the marine food chain,
affecting the larger species most significantly, like the whales. It is
crucial to keep krill harvesting at a level such that the species is able
to replenish its numbers.