CLAIRE POULTON LEARnING HUB BENEFITS
What is the Offer?
Most people know little about Krill. Despite being a keystone species in the Antarctic and so important for whales and other charismatic marine animals, they themselves are small, skinny, pink, shrimp-like creatures. As individuals they are not particularly awe-inspiring. But en-masse you begin to understand their significance. Krill are not fish, not even vertebrates, but are a small, pinkish, translucent, 2” long crustacean closely related to shrimp. Krill are pelagic animals, meaning that they live in the water column (not close to the seafloor).
What Will Benefit YOU?
Krill are among the most abundant animals on earth. They aggregate in huge swarms, visible from space at over 20 kms long. Females can lay up to 10,000 eggs at a time which sink and hatch in deep water; (700-1000m). Swarms of Krill can number up to 30 trillion individuals.
Dispelling Long Held Nutitional Guides
Krill are harvested primarily for animal feed and essential fatty acids (like Omega 3 oils). Indeed, it has been the target species for the largest fishery in Antarctica since the 1960’s. In medical science much work has been undertaken and is still underway to learn about the various maladies Krill Oil may cure. The anti-aging and tumor suppression qualities of Krill Oil are often talked up and the fishery is likely to expand, but in order to remain sustainable, efforts must be made to ensure the long-term viability of the Krill species. Key approaches include in-situ conservation (protecting natural habitats)
