CCAMLR

Studies were conducted to formulate different products using krill meat stored for 2 months at -30°C and one month at -20°C. Dried krill of good quality could be prepared by blanching krill in boiling 5% Na Cl solution for 5 minutes and then sundrying. Incorporation of krill mince even at a level of 10% to fish mince during production of surimi and fish paste affected the quality. Though a prawn like flavour was imparted on mixing krill mince with fish mince during preparation of fish cutlet and fish burger, it gave a bitter after taste at 10% level and bitter taste at 20% level or above. The swelling property of the fish wafer was affected by the incorporation of krill mince.

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) harvested during the First Indian Antarctic Krill Expedition were subjected to primary processing like freezing, preparation of minced meat etc. on board the vessel. On reaching the shore these primary products were further processed into several value added products which included dried, canned, frozen and other speciality products and by-products. Biochemical, bacteriological and organoleptic assessments of many products were carried out. The details of the work carried out and the results obtained are summarised in this paper

Antarctic krill harvested from Southern ocean during the First Indian Antarctic Krill Expedition, was processed onboard FORV Sagar Sampada and the biochemical parameters of frozen stored samples were studied. The mince was extracted and various products were prepared. The chemical composition are similar to other related species. The fluoride in the shell migrated into the meat on frozen storage to the tune of 44% after three months.

Results of harvesting operations for Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) in Fishing Area 58 in the Indian Ocean Sector of Southern Ocean, during the First Indian Antarctic Krill Expedition (27 December 1995 - 10 March 1996) on board FORV Sagar Sampada are summarised in this paper. 18 hauls were made using a 2.5 m Isaacs-Kidd Midwater Trawl (IKMT) in the area 59°00’-61°08' S lat; 30°04'-40°04' E long, from 27 January to 12 February 1996. In the area of operations, krill was caught in waters south of 60° parallel (60°43'-6l°00' S), between 32°00-34°05' E long. Krill were present in 33.3 per cent of the total number of hauls taken. Major species obtained were krill (8%) and salps (92%). Aimed trawling operations targeted at Antarctic krill were conducted using a 42 m commercial krill midwater trawl sourced from Poland and a 49.5 m experimental krill midwater trawl of Danish origin. total catch of 12470 kg was landed during the 16 aimed trawling operations. This included 5637 kg Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), 6738 kg salps, 35 kg jelly fish, 12 kg krill juveniles, 2.2 kg lantern fish, 5.7 kg squid and 2.7 kg other fishes. Krill constituted 46 per cent of the total catch while salps constituted 54 per cent. Average catch for krill worked out to be 354.6 kg.haul-1. In the area of operations (57°53'- 61°13' S lat and 31°40' - 36°31' E long ) krill was caught between 60°48' - 61°13' S lat and 31°19' - 34°14' E long. Better catches (>l000 kg.haul-1 ) were obtained between latitude 60°40' - 61°13' S and longitude 33°34' - 34°14' E.

During the First Indian Antarctic Krill Expedition (FIKEX), krill samples were collected from 34 stations of fishing area 58 in Indian Ocean sector of Antarctic region between lat.57°53'S to 61°13'S and long.30°02'E to 40°05'E. These were analysed onboard FORV Sagar Sampada for the study of biology, distribution and abundance. The samples were collected for a period of 18 days from 26th January to 12th February '96. Three types of gears were used viz. Isaacs Kidd Midwater Trawl (IKMT), 49.5m krill midwater trawl (Cosmos trawl Denmark) and 42m Polish krill midwater trawl. The length frequency analysis indicated a bimodel distribution with 19-20 mm and 53-54mm as the most abundant size in the fishing area 58. The average sex ratio of male and female Euphausia superba was observed to be 1:l.17 though it differs from swarm to swarm. The analysis showed that 47% of krills with high intensively feeding population and 25% with moderate feeding population which indicate the feeding of krill and availability of food in the area surveyed. Maturity stage IV (fully matured) was maximum among both the sex followed by stage V (spawned), indicating spawning period. Of the total catch of 12.470 tomes recorded, krill constituted 45.6% and the by-catch 54.4%. The by-catch included salps 54%, Antarctic squid 0.07%, jelly fish 0.02% and fin fishes 0.13%.

On the basis of acoustically registered krill swarms along a 1097 nm transect in the area 58 of Indian Ocean Sector of Antarctic region, the biomass density of krill, their spatial and depth distribution are presented. The mean density of krill biomass between 60°00'S and 61°00' S parallels 34°00'E and 40°00'E meridian was recorded as 0.6t.km-2. Presence of krill was not observed north of 60°00' lat. Factors which influence the abundance of krill in the area are discussed. Different forms of krill swarms observed during the survey are illustrated and defined.

Distribution, abundance and species composition of zooplankton collected during the First Indian Antarctic Krill Expedition were studied. Zooplankton biomass values ranged fiom 9.79 to 303.62m1./100m-3 (x=142.14±77.02). High standing stock values were recorded in the study area where copepods, chaetognaths, euphausiids and salps were the dominant taxa. Copepoda formed the major constituent of zooplankton community and the population density ranged fiom 650 to 7209/100 m-3 of zooplankton catch. Swarms of krill and salps were observed during the study period (austral summer) which were the prime cause for high standing stock of zooplankton. The prevailing physical parameters could be the important factor influencing the higher standing crop of different zooplankton groups. The study revealed that the present investigation site falls under potential krill fishing ground.