Date: Tuesday, 11 August 2026; 5th Annual Day.
Sponsors: Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC)
The Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)
Objectives:
World Krill Day is celebrated each year with the following goals in mind:
- To increase global awareness about krill—tiny yet powerful organisms essential to the health of our oceans and the many ecosystem services they provide.
- To highlight the crucial role Antarctic krill plays in the marine food web, supporting a wide range of species, from whales and seals to penguins and fish.
- To educate the public about the importance of krill in regulating Earth’s climate by driving the ocean’s biological pump and sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- To promote international cooperation and action toward protecting krill populations and their habitats, including the establishment of marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries management.
Inception:
World Krill Day was observed for the first time on August 11, 2022 , marking the beginning of an annual tradition dedicated to celebrating and protecting these remarkable creatures.
Background:
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), native to the Southern Ocean, are indispensable to the Antarctic ecosystem as the most prominent and influential zooplankton species. These tiny, shrimp-like crustaceans—about the size of a human thumb—form the foundation of the marine food web, serving as the main nourishment for a remarkable variety of animals, including whales, seals, penguins, and numerous fish species.
In addition to their ecological importance, Antarctic krill are vital to the ocean’s biological pump—a natural process that helps capture and transfer carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the deep sea. By consuming algae and phytoplankton, krill move carbon from surface waters into deeper ocean layers through their waste, effectively locking away carbon and thus playing a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate. This makes krill invaluable allies in the fight against climate change.
However, krill populations are increasingly threatened by climate change and intensive fishing activity, especially around the Antarctic Peninsula. To protect these essential organisms and the broader marine environment, international cooperation is urgently needed. Establishing marine protected areas and enforcing robust fisheries management will help conserve krill populations, safeguard habitats, and ensure the survival of the diverse wildlife that depends on them.
Official website:
https://www.asoc.org/news/world-krill-day-2025
