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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Karen McVeigh

Antarctic krill: how did a paperclip-sized crustacean cause a diplomatic row – and why are they so important?

Antarctic CCAMLR Ocean Fish Russia
A small pink shrimp-like crustacean on a stony beach
An Antarctic krill. Although it is the foundation of the ecosystem, about 500,000 tonnes of krill were trawled in the Antarctic last year. Photograph: LouieLea/Shutterstock

Antarctic krill are small, shrimp-like marine crustaceans (Euphausia superba). They feed on plankton and are the main food source for larger marine animals. The word “krill” comes from the Norwegian word “kril” meaning the small fry of fish.

Why are they so important in Antarctica?

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