SUMMARY: An article from Discovery News, titled “China’s Krill Push Threatens Penguins and Whales”, talks about how China’s push to boost its harvest of krill may leave Antarctic’s whales, seals, and penguins struggling to survive. It has been harvesting krill and freezing it into processed pellets for aquaculture and livestock operations, fish bait, and high-value “nutraceuticals” such as omega-3 dietary supplements. Other countries that are harvesting krill with massive factory ships include Norway, Korea, and Chile. China wants a seven-fold increase in krill production. According to Claire Christian, a spokeswoman for the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, “some of the larger ships could deplete all the krill in a local area.”

ANALYSIS: I think that this is a major issue because if China keeps fishing the krill to death, it could end up killing a lot of sea life that survive on krill. Along with global warming ruining their habitat, they now also have to deal with humans taking away their main source of food. If we do not do anything, then we could potentially cause the extinction of these animals that feed off of krill. Even though the Arctic Peninsula is international waters,  I suggest that all of the governments in the world come together to talk about possible restrictions on the amount of krill fished and possible ideas for alternatives for items that use krill as an ingredient.  

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: What do you think about the krill situation?

What do you think can be done to help the situation?

LINK TO ARTICLE: http://news.discovery.com/animals/chinas-krill-push-threatens-penguins-and-whales-150416.htm