Abstract:

Antarctic Krill ( Euphausia superba ) were collected from the Prydz Bay region during the austral summer of 1999/2000. Three longitudinal transects,with 15 sites,were sampled. Although krill were encountered in 14 sites,the densities were comparatively low in general. The main component of the krill population was post larval stages. The mean numerical density and weight density integrated for the whole survey region were 16.17 ind./1000 m 3 and 12.02 g/1000 m 3,respectively. The abundance of krill was relatively high and they distributed more evenly in slope area than the open sea area,except that the highest value was found in open sea area. No krill occurred in the only station of the shelf area. The krill were growing better in the slope area than in the open sea area,but as for the whole study area,Antarctic krill were under normal growing state. The results of the analyses of the environmental factors indicate the presence of the three large sample stations were to some extent related to the cold water mass at 75 m depth,as well as the confluence area between the high and low Chl a centers at 25 m depth.