Dear Banjo,

Thank You so much for jumping into this
discussion - it makes it so much
more interesting - having someone else
contributing as well. I was beginning to
feel that I was talking to myself here.

You're right to point out the importance of
krill.

As several websites have confirmed:

"Antarctic wildlife including Blue Whales,
Crabeater and leopard seals, as well as
seabirds such as Emperor, rockhopper and
Adelie penguin and three species
of albatross are all primarily krill feeders."

These creatures are negatively impacted by
increased krill fishing in the Antarctic,
and ensuring a consistent food source is
crucial to their long term survival.

Part of the problem is that krill are sought
commercially for fish meal and Omega3 fish oil.

Salmon farmers prefer using krill as they impart
their pink colour to the muscle of the fish,
making them attractive to the buying public.

Krill has also become popular in the medical
community to aid post surgical healing and
decrease cholestrol levels.

Its vitally important in regulating where the
fisheries occur to minimize their impact on
marine mammals. Setting catch limits has to also
happen that will ensure enough krill is
available in each area where fisheries operate,
especially in the critical marine mammal and
seabird forging and breeding areas.

One of the biggest problems, I think is persuading
countries like Japan to comply with these conditions.

Once again - Thanks for raising this topic - I
actually learned a lot about krill from the various
websites - that I didn't know previously.

Cheers.

Foxy,
Must admit that the krill post was more in jest than anything. So many talk about the whales and recently I saw an article about some people going off about indiginous people on a far northern hemisphere island herding and killing pilot whales, like they have done for thousands of years. I can't recall (my memory loss) the place name but the whales made up much of their diet and I thought each to his own, that is their way of life.

So I thought to raise the matter of krill, even though I know little about them. Except that whales consume vast quanties and they are small prawn like crustations that must be plentifull.

I did not know that penguins and other seabirds also ate them either or in fact what the krill themselves live on. Or that there was an industry harvesting them.

So thanks for the info, we now know a little more. We do learn stuff on OLO.

Dear Banjo,

I'm absolutely thrilled that you say
you learned something from me!

Thrilled, because you're one poster
whose opinions I value greatly - so
Thanks!

You've made my day!