Scots scientists plan to monitor krill from space over warming threat

Baku: Scientists are launching a project to monitor krill from space. They want to protect these tiny creatures from climate change and fishing. Krill are small but vital for the Antarctic ecosystem. They feed penguins, seals, and even blue whales.

These little guys also help absorb carbon from the atmosphere. The project started at the UN climate conference in November. Dr. Cait McCarry from Strathclyde just returned from an Antarctic trip where she studied live krill.

Rod Downie from WWF-UK calls krill the “superheroes” of the Southern Ocean. They support amazing marine life and help whales migrate to feed. But climate change and fishing threaten their survival. We need to manage their habitats better.

David McKee from Strathclyde explains that satellites have monitored ocean color since 1997. Recently, they found a way to detect the pigment that makes krill red. This could help track krill swarms, which are crucial feeding areas for marine species.

Krill play a big role in transferring carbon to the deep ocean. They can move 0.3 million tonnes of carbon daily, similar to the UK’s daily emissions. But warming seas are harming their nurseries, causing populations to decline.

Protecting krill is essential for biodiversity and climate stability. Scientists believe this new monitoring method will help safeguard this important species.