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Economic Competition for High Profits from Antarctic Living Resources in Their Protection Area



Author(s)

Ryszard Jacek Traczyk

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DOI:10.17265/2162-5298/2016.01.001

Since 1790, Antarctic living resources were becoming subjects of competition among the exploiters to be first in obtaining the maximum profit from them. This led to subsequent extinction of valuable species from fur seals and next penguins, large through small whales, industrial demersal fish, further to pelagic species and now toothfish, crabs and krill. Catch proportions of their numerous and biomass decrease. The biomass of South Georgia Icefish estimated for 40 years in spide of decreasing trend has one of the largest components—the oscillations with periods of 3 years or 4 years. Their models explain large biomass fluctuations in the years 1975 to 1981 with amplitudes ±15 × 10³ tonnes around average 20 × 10³ tonnes and further decline up to 2005 season with oscillation ±4 × 10³ tonnes around average 5 × 10³ tonnes. For future season, 2016 model predicts a little increase of the biomass oscillation at level of 8 × 10³ tonnes with reduced amplitude 2 × 10³ tonnes. Slowly increase density of adult fish was also reported for target similar and close related mackerel icefish. Additional references for biomass levels help reduce the risk of further depletion biomass of Pseudochaenichthys georgianus which already declined to 75%. As global warming promote phytoplankton growth, replacing krill fishery by algae farms can save unique Antarctic heritages.

Maximum profits from resources, fish biomass, age of icefish, Antarctic fish, krill