Antarctic krill store as much carbon as the world’s salt marshes, mangroves and seagrass beds

Krill, central to the Southern Ocean's ecosystem, play a crucial role in carbon storage, locking away 20 million tonnes of carbon annually, equivalent to $4bn-46bn, depending on the price of carbon. This makes krill-driven carbon storage comparable to that of blue carbon habitats like mangroves and seagrasses. However, as the climate warms, krill face habitat reduction, highlighting the urgent need for protection. While they are also important to fisheries, their role in carbon sequestration demands conservation efforts. The recent UN High Seas Treaty emphasises preserving ecosystems like the Southern Ocean, offering hope for krill’s protection and continued carbon storage capacity. (The Conversation)