Scientists test the waters for sustainable krill fishery in the Antarctic
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An entourage of 20 scientists are set to embark on a two-month expedition in Antarctica to ensure the sustainable development of a krill fishery in the region
The expedition aims to provide enough research to determine a krill catch limit for commercial fishing in a region that has not been fished for 25 years
To do this, the Research Vessel Investigator will depart from Hobart laden with new equipment to measure krill biomass at depths of up to 1500 metres
The findings will then be assessed by the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, who advocate for sustainable krill catching
Australian Antarctic Division
Australian Antarctic Program scientists will use a range of novel technologies to measure krill, during a ground-breaking voyage to the Southern Ocean that departs tomorrow.
Over the next two months the team on Research Vessel (RV) Investigator, operated by Australia’s science agency CSIRO, will use specially designed camera technologies, for the first time, to study krill and their environment; along with acoustics, trawls, predator observations, oceanography and genetics.
Voyage Chief Scientist, Dr So Kawaguchi, from the Australian Antarctic Division, said the team would determine how much krill (their ‘biomass’) live in waters off Mawson research station in East Antarctica, to ensure the sustainable development of a krill fishery in the region.
Australia sends groundbreaking new technology to Antarctica as krill fishers eye expansion
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Antarctica has a contentious history of fishing and exploration.
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Australian scientists will today embark on a voyage into the ice for a mission that will test both new technology and our ability to keep Antarctica COVID-free.
Key points:
Commercial krill fishing in Antarctica has returned to a 30-year high
Scientists hope to measure the impact of hauls as fishers eye expansion of their fishing grounds
The crew is taking precautions to ensure no coronavirus is spread during the voyage
The primary aim of the two-month voyage is to measure the amount of krill in Australia s Antarctic region as demand for commercial fishing rises.
Tellingly, they ve also allowed Australians to make an overdue reacquaintance with long-distance air travel.
For most of the passengers, the flights offer their first taste of travel beyond Australian shores in a year or more with Antarctica likely to remain the furthest destination Australians will be able to travel to until at least the end of the year.
For the next 2021-2022 season, eight flights are already scheduled and available for booking, an increase on the 2020-2021 season by one, with the inclusion of a departure from Hobart, home of the Australian Antarctic Division. You will now receive updates from