Antarctica’s krill fishery has shut down months ahead of schedule after reaching its full seasonal catch-limit—a historic first. The early closure is fueling urgent calls to protect the Southern Ocean’s fragile marine ecosystems from mounting industrial fishing and climate change.

Typically, the fishery runs from December 1 to November 30. This year, it closed the first week of August, according to Javier Arata, executive officer of the Association of Responsible Krill Harvesting Companies (ARK). The organization includes 10 krill fishing companies and 12 vessels from China, Norway, South Korea, Chile and Ukraine. Together, these vessels catch up to 95 percent of the tiny crustaceans caught each year used to make omega-3 supplements, fish meal for farm-raised salmon and pet food .

There

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