Hydroacoustic assessment of krill in Area 58 of the Indian Ocean sector of the Antarctic region

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.