H-18 



RESEARCH PROGRAMMES 



9. Investigate the biochemical composition of krill and its relation to feeding, season and 

 growth. 



10. Investigate the spawning behaviour, area, depth and intensity, and the possible 

 occurrence of repeated spawning. 



1 1 . Evaluate the possibility of using remote-sensing techniques for monitoring krill. 



In addition it will be important to ensure that comprehensive catch and effort statistics are 

 collected and reported to the appropriate international agency. 



The handling of practical fishery information can be considered as the responsibility of 

 fishery institutes and agencies. The information is often needed to achieve the best productive 

 tactics for the development and utilization of kriD, but if large exploitation starts it will also be 

 invaluable for quantitative studies of krill dynamics. 



During the Woods Hole conference, it was possible to examine acoustic techniques in some 

 detail. While the commercial fishing expeditions have clearly demonstrated the efficiency of 

 hydro-acoustic techniques in detecting swarms of krill, the translation of such signals into 

 absolute units requires special study. It was proposed to conduct as soon as possible a small 

 scale study for the purpose of: 



(a) determining the back scattering strength of various densities of krill by cage 

 experiments 



(b) providing a calibration coefficient from simultaneous fishing and hydro-acoustic 

 mapping 



(c) determining the variance encountered in different survey strategies. 



To implement these proposals close international co-operation will be needed. Useful 

 co-operation has already developed during recent years between scientists of several countries 

 engaged in krill research and related aspects; it ranges from exchange of information such as 

 cruise plans, prehminary results and publications, to joint participation on board research 

 vessels during krill surveys. The existing international collaboration in krill research should be 

 further expanded and intensified. It is essential that the methods of sampling, recording and 

 reporting be standardized or intercalibrated as far as possible, in order to avoid the collection of 

 material which might turn out later to be incomparable. Working groups on methods of krill 

 research should be established to consider all items requiring standardization (eg, length 

 measurements, maturity stages, stomach filling), and to elaborate proposals for survey 

 techniques, data collection, evaluation and reporting. The recent establishment of SCOR 

 Working Group 52 on the estimation of micronekton abundance is a first step in this direction. 



SELECTED REFERENCES 



BaRGMANN, H. E. 1937. The reproductive system oi Euphausia superba. Discovery Reports, Vol 14, 



p 325-50. 

 BaRGMANN, H. E. 1945. The development and life history of adolescent and adult krill, Euphausia 



superba. Discovery Reports, Vol 23, p 103-78. 

 BUDD. G. M. and DOWNES, M. C. 1969. Population increase and breeding in the Kerguelen lur Seal, 



Arctocephalus Iropicalis Gazella, at Heard Island. Mammalia, Vol 33, p 58-67. 

 CONROY, J. W. H. 1975. Recent increases in penguin populations in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic. In: 



STONEHOUSE. B. ed. The biology of penguins. London. Macmillan, p 321-36. 

 EVERSON, I. 1976. Antarctic krill: a reappraisal of its distribution. Polar Record, Vol 18, No 112, 



p 15-23. 

 FiSCHKR, W. 1974. Der Kiill (Euphausia superba) and andere Nahrungsreserven im Gebiet der Antarktis 



(Krill (Euphausia superba) and other food resources in the Antarctic area]. Protokolle zur 



Fischereitcchnik, Bd 62, p 226-88 (translated). 



