Marine Animals

Antarctic Krill and Ecosystem Welfare

Antarctic krill are the keystone species of Southern Ocean food webs, supporting penguins, seals, and whales while facing growing fishing pressure.

Key Facts

Antarctic krill biomass is estimated at over 300 million tonnes making them among the most abundant animals on Earth
Commercial krill fishing has grown significantly for aquaculture feed and omega-3 supplements
Krill are central to the diet of blue whales, humpbacks, leopard seals, and penguins
Ocean warming and acidification are shrinking Antarctic sea ice that krill depend on
Individual krill have pain receptors and show avoidance behavior to noxious stimuli

Welfare Considerations

Krill occupy an unusual position in welfare thinking: enormously numerous, uncertain individual sentience, but certain ecological importance. Their harvesting for aquaculture feed and human supplements displaces essential food from higher-order animals with clearer welfare claims. Precautionary approaches that maintain krill abundance protect both ecosystem health and the welfare of krill-dependent charismatic species.

What You Can Do

Choose omega-3 supplements from algae rather than krill oil to reduce harvesting pressure
Avoid aquaculture products using krill meal as a primary feed ingredient
Support conservation of Antarctic sea ice through climate action and clean energy adoption
Advocate for strict precautionary catch limits in Antarctic krill fisheries
Learn about Southern Ocean ecosystem dynamics and the role of krill