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B. Risks Associated With Making Management Decisions 

 Upon Current Information 



Due to an incomplete understanding of the Antarctic 

 marine ecosystem, attempts to integrate quantitative trophic 

 relationships, subtle ecosystem interactions, and enlightened 

 management decisions are associated with a certain degree of 

 risk. It is essential that more adequate information be 

 gathered to ensure that irreversible reactions to man's 

 manipulations do not result. For example, further research 

 may demonstrate that certain geographical areas are sometimes 

 critical (e.g., breeding). Without that knowledge, over- 

 harvest in such an area could have a relatively high impact 

 on target and dependent species. 



Dependent species may be subject to trophodynamic 

 shifts if other living resources are harvested. An obvious 

 example is the impact of krill harvests on various krill 

 predators. Krill consumers would undoubtedly experience some 

 degree of impact as a result of commercial krill exploitation — 

 the critical question is what the changes would be. To what 

 extent would harvesting krill adversely affect recovery of 

 the seriously depleted baleen whales? The increased competition 

 for krill could slow or stop the comeback. Krill harvesting 

 might also upset certain fundamental ecosystem patterns 

 which are critical to maintaining the ecosystem. In short, 

 uninformed exploitation of Southern Ocean marine life may 

 adversely affect target species, dependent species, and the 

 ecological viability of the system as a whole. 



