The principal mission of the U. S. directed AMLR research
program is to provide the scientific information needed to
detect, monitor, and predict the effects of harvesting and
associated activities on target, dependent, and related species
and populations of the Antarctic marine living resources and the
ecosystems of which they are a part. The Program utilizes an
AMLR-chartered research vessel to conduct predator/prey studies
in the vicinity of two field stations in the South Shetland
Islands. The ship platform is used to collect environmental,
oceanographic, primary productivity and prey data (zooplankton
abundance and distribution, specifically Antarctic krill
Euphausia superba). More information on why the AMLR Program
focuses on krill is available here. Finfish surveys are
conducted periodically to assess biomass of species subject to
commercial harvesting. Concurrently, AMLR researchers collect
predator data at field stations located at Cape Shirreff on
Livingston Island (seabird and seal data) and at Co