10亿吨海里“金矿”，全球多国竞相争夺，中国或将成为最大赢家

Core Insights - Antarctic krill is a crucial species in the Antarctic ecosystem, supporting the entire food chain and has an estimated population of 6 to 10 billion tons, significantly surpassing the total weight of humans and most land animals [3] - The potential of Antarctic krill as a high-quality protein source is highlighted, with its resources capable of supporting 1.4 billion people globally [1][4] - China is emerging as a key competitor in the global krill resource competition, leveraging technology and strategic positioning to potentially become the largest beneficiary [4] Industry Overview - Krill has strong environmental adaptability, capable of reducing its size and metabolic rate during food shortages, and can reproduce prolifically, with females laying 6,000 to 10,000 eggs annually [6] - Krill meal is becoming a premium substitute for traditional fish meal, with a replacement ratio of 2.5 tons of fish meal per ton of krill meal, thus reducing fish resource consumption [8] - The global krill fishing competition began in the 1970s, with China entering the market in 2007 and reaching a catch volume of 100,000 tons by 2019, accounting for one-fourth of the global total [10] Sustainability Challenges - The development of krill resources faces sustainability challenges due to climate change, which is causing Antarctic ice melt and affecting their habitat and food sources [10] - International agreements limit the global annual catch to no more than 620,000 tons to protect the ecosystem [10] - Balancing development and ecological protection is essential for the sustainable utilization of this marine protein resource, which is critical for human development [12]