Abstract: The krill resource is very abundant in the area surrounding Antarctica and its development potential has been receiving considerable worldwide attention. Based on statistical data of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), this study analyzed the developmental status of countries involved in fishing of Antarctic krill, and studied the characteristics of structural changes of the Antarctic krill fishery. The results suggested a number of conclusions. 1) Traditional Antarctic krill fishing countries such as Poland, Japan, and Ukraine are gradually withdrawing from the development of Antarctic krill because of the limitations of krill fishing technology and fishing gear. 2) The numbers of Antarctic krill fishing vessels and size of fishing catches continue to rise because of the participation of emerging countries such as Norway, China, and Chile. 3) The fishing catch from March to September accounts for 70%—90% of the total fishing catch, although Antarctic krill can be fished all year around. 4) The fishing catch fluctuates considerably in CCAMLR districts 48.1, 48.2, 48.3, and the selection of fishing grounds is becoming increasingly difficult because of changing environmental factors and new fishery management measures. 5) Traditional modes of large-scale resource investigation are not adapted to the Antarctic krill resource and fishery management requirements and therefore, scientific investigations of the krill fishery based on fishing vessel data, will become an important reference for surveying and assessing the Antarctic krill resource.

Key words: Antarctic krill, fishing catch, fishing grounds, fishery management