Russian scientists worked out database on Antarctic krill biology and fishery

Scientists of Azov-Black Sea branch of VNIRO (AzNIIRKH) have created a unique database on Antarctic krill biology and fishery. According to Russia’s Federal Agency for Fishery (Rosrybolovstvo), the information base will become an actual tool when Russian fishermen resume krill fishing and processing. Work on the development of large-scale krill fishing has been carried out by Rosrybolovstvo together with the industry community over the past years.

Krill stocks are the largest marine biological resource on the planet, its possible catch is estimated at millions of tons. Antarctic krill is one of the most environmentally friendly food, this valuable resource of the Atlantic is called "rose gold". Krill got its name not so much because of its color, but for its unique nutritional properties and a wide range of industrial uses.

The database contains a large array of digitized information about krill research obtained during expeditions in the Indian Ocean part of Antarctica: data on ships, catches, krill biology and etc.

The developers will continue to replenish and develop the database based on archival information and new information received from scientific observers from research and fishing vessels. In particular, it will include data from last year's voyage to the waters of the Atlantic part of Antarctica on the research vessel Academician Mstislav Keldysh.

The database formed in the Azov-Black Sea branch of VNIRO is the basis for conducting resource studies of Antarctic krill, as it provides a wide application of mathematical modeling methods for the study of biology and resources, and in the future, the development of recommendations for decision—making on strategic planning for the exploitation of Antarctic krill stocks.

Krill meat ("Antarctic shrimp") as a source of valuable proteins, it includes the entire set of essential amino acids, as well as macro- and microelements, vitamins and provitamins, is used in its natural form and for the production of canned food. Krill oil is a source of astaxanthin, the most powerful antioxidant of all known. Krill meal is indispensable in the production of high-quality feed for farm animals, freshwater and marine farming.