Humans Are Raiding Whales’ Food Supply for Dietary Supplements and Animal Feed
The krill population in the Southern Ocean is facing significant threats from climate change and industrial fishing. Blue whales, which rely heavily on krill for their diet, may be adversely affected by these changes. Calls for stricter regulations on krill fishing are increasing among scientists and conservationists concerned about the impact on marine ecosystems.
- ▪Climate change is causing large-scale changes in the Southern Ocean krill population, with some areas experiencing declines of up to 80 percent.
- ▪Supertrawlers are now vacuuming up to 1,000 tons of krill a day, primarily for krill oil used in dietary supplements and animal feed.
- ▪The European Union has called for a five-year moratorium on krill fishing in the Southern Ocean to gather more data on its impact.
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freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: "motherjones_right_rail_1", slotId: "ROS_ATF_300x600" }); A breaching humpback whale. New South Wales, Australia. Media Drum World/Zuma Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily. This story was originally published by Yale Environment 360 and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Maxing out at around 200 tons, the blue whale is not only the largest animal on the planet, it is also the largest animal ever to exist. These creatures become so massive by eating a diet comprised almost entirely of krill, the translucent, thumb-sized organisms that thrive in the frigid waters of Antarctica.
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