Antarctic shrimp is a small crustacean that lives in the waters near Antarctica, in addition to Argentina, South Georgia, Bouvet Island and other small amounts of Antarctic krill. It is named because it is rich in phosphorus.
Adult shrimp may be as long as 4 cm to 9 cm, have a lifespan of about 6 years, and may reach 10,000 to 30,000 Antarctic krill per cubic meter.
Although known as the "gold mine of the sea", the actual global total can reach 780 trillion tons, but this small shrimp is difficult to make it to the Chinese table. Below, we'll explore the characteristics and value of Antarctic krill from multiple perspectives, and why it's hard to be a Chinese delicacy.
I. Population and characteristics of Antarctic krill
Antarctic krill is one of the main benthic organisms in the waters off Antarctica. Adult shrimp are about 4 cm to 9 cm long and live for about 6 years. There could be 10,000 to 30,000 Antarctic krill per cubic metre. It is reported that a total of 6.5 to 1 billion tons of Antarctic krill is found in a sea area of Antarctica, and animals such as whales, penguins and seals eat 300 million tons every year. In addition, a female Antarctic krill can lay 6,000 to 10,000 eggs at a time, which can be described as a strong reproductive ability.
Fluorescent organs and possible roles of Antarctic krill
Antarctic krill, like fireflies, has fluorescent organs that emit light every 2 to 3 seconds. There is no uniform explanation for the role of this fluorescent organ. Some experts believe that it may be a courtship signal to attract heterosexual Antarctic krill. Some experts believe that luminescence is an avoidance action before being preyed on by other species. In the dark seabed environment, these shrimp can better adapt to the environment by using the light emitted by their fluorescent organs, and are more likely to find companions or avoid predators.
Nutritional and medicinal value of Antarctic krill
Antarctic krill is known as the "gold mine of the sea" not only because of its quantity, but also because of its unique nutritional content. Antarctic krill is rich in protein, phosphorus, calcium, iron, zinc and other nutrients, of which the protein content is as high as more than 70%, much higher than other seafood. In addition, Antarctic krill is also rich in natural antioxidants, which can help the body improve immunity and delay aging. The shell and adipose tissue of Antarctic krill are also rich in a variety of natural medicinal ingredients, which have certain medicinal value.
4. Why Antarctic krill is difficult to become a Chinese delicacy
Despite the abundance and nutritional value of Antarctic krill, why is it so difficult to become a Chinese delicacy? On the one hand, Antarctic krill grows in the extreme environment of Antarctica, with extremely low temperatures, clear water and long growth cycles, which are not suitable for large-scale aquaculture and fishing. In addition, Antarctic krill is small in size, with less shrimp meat and high cost, which is not conducive to commercial development. On the other hand, Antarctic krill is not widely recognized in China, and the price is high, and the market demand is relatively small. Therefore, Antarctic krill is difficult to become a delicacy for Chinese.
V. Conclusion
Although Antarctic krill has a large number and high nutritional value, it is difficult to become a Chinese delicacy due to its natural environment and body size and other factors. However, with growing concerns about health and nutrition, Antarctic krill may become an emerging seafood delicacy in the future. At the same time, we should also pay more attention to the protection and research of Antarctic krill, promote its sustainable development and utilization, and realize the rational utilization and protection of resources.
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