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Abundance and Distribution of Fin and Humpback Whales at the South Orkney Islands 2011–2025

Biomass
Fisheries management
This 15-year study reveals the South Orkney Islands as a critical feeding area for fin whales during Antarctic summer, with populations showing significant recovery. Fin whale densities increased dramatically from 2011-2025, reaching peak abundances of over 18,000 individuals in some years. The research demonstrates that both fin and humpback whales concentrate along the northern shelf break where krill density is highest, creating potential competition with commercial krill fishing operations. Current whale populations consume 4-8 times more krill daily than the commercial fishery harvests, highlighting the need for ecosystem-based fishery management.
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Abundance and Distribution of Fin and Humpback Whales at the South Orkney Islands 2011–2025

Featured Publications

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The Enormous Repetitive Antarctic Krill Genome
Antarctic ecosystem
Climate
The Enormous Repetitive Antarctic Krill Genome
No evidence for a decline in the density of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba Dana, 1850, in the Southwest Atlantic sector between 1976 and 2016
Biomass
Antarctic ecosystem
No evidence for a decline in the density of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba Dana, 1850, in the Southwest Atlantic sector between 1976 and 2016
Adjusting the Management of the Antarctic Krill Fishery to Meet the Challenges of the 21st Century
Biomass
Fisheries management
Adjusting the Management of the Antarctic Krill Fishery to Meet the Challenges of the 21st Century
Standing stock of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana, 1850) (Euphausiacea) in the Southwest Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean, 2018–19
Antarctic ecosystem
Biomass
Standing stock of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana, 1850) (Euphausiacea) in the Southwest Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean, 2018–19

Latest publications

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Adjusting the Management of the Antarctic Krill Fishery to Meet the Challenges of the 21st Century

Biomass
Fisheries management
Antarctic ecosystem
Climate
Krill (Euphausia superba)
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 2025

Abundance and Distribution of Fin and Humpback Whales at the South Orkney Islands 2011–2025

Biomass
Fisheries management
Antarctic ecosystem
Climate
Krill (Euphausia superba)
ICES Journal of Marine Science, 2025

KRILLSCAN: An automated open-source software for processing and analysis of echosounder data from the Antarctic krill fishery

Biomass
Fisheries management
Antarctic ecosystem
Krill (Euphausia superba)
Fisheries Management and Ecology, 2024