Mission Blue has announced its latest “Hope Spot” in East Antarctica.
The new East Antarctic Hope Spot is home to a myriad of wildlife, including seals, penguins, whales, and toothfish.
The presence of sea ice in this area is essential for many species, including Antarctic silverfish and krill, according to Mission Blue:
“Loss of sea ice could have cascading effects throughout the ecosystem, as krill are a critical food source for much of the wildlife that inhabits this Hope Spot.”
Scientists believethis region has experienced the damaging effects of the Earth’s changing climate more than many other places on the planet, but conservation is in the works – the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has considered a proposal to establish the area as a Marine Protected Area (MPA).
