University of Miami School of Law Institutional Repository
Abstract
The author suggests that the abundance of marine life in Antarctica presents ample opportunity both for scientific study and for exploitation. The author provides a survey of the distinct ecological system of the Southern Ocean through his discussion of the main marine species-from the simple organisms involved in primary production to the large marine mammals which have been subject to exploitation in the past. His primary emphasis is on krill, the small, shrimp-like crustacean which serves as the pivotal link in the Antarctic food chain. The abundance of krill, its high nutritive value and its ease of harvesting are factors which the author perceives as according krill significant potential for exploitation. At the same time, he identifies economic and technical obstacles which must be overcome if commercial krill harvesting is to develop