Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a keystone species in the Southern Ocean ecosystem, and its fishery is managed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). In recent years, CCAMLR has achieved substantial progress in krill fishery management, establishing a science and ecosystem based, phased management approach, which called the revised Krill Fishery Management Approach (KFMA). KFMA relies on: (1) acoustical biomass estimates  supported by systematic surveys and novel acoustic technologies; (2) stock assessment and population dynamics modelling to estimate a precautionary harvest rate; and (3) spatial overlap analysis between krill distribution and predator demand to guide the allocation of catch limits across management units smaller than the Subareas. The implementation of KFMA follows a stepwise roadmap, initiating in regions with sufficient data, and gradually expanding to other areas, thereby transitioning the fishery management from conventional practices towards  refined and ecologically informed management.
To further developing KFMA, ongoing efforts integrate krill biological and ecological traits, physical oceanographic processes, and omics technologies to formulate a holistic krill stock hypothesis (KSH). KSH aims to elucidate the status of krill stocks within different management units and their connectivity with adjacent areas. These efforts have generated multidisciplinary research nodes, calling for deepened collaboration among marine ecology, fisheries science, physical oceanography, molecular biology, and related fields. This presentation will systematically outline the scientific scheme, highlight recent advances, and identify future cooperative priorities, offering a scientific basis for the conservation of the Southern Ocean ecosystem and the rational use of krill resources.
 

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