Safeguard plan hope for breeding penguins
Breeding Antarctic penguins could be helped by a proposed network of marine protected areas (MPAS), according to new research.
Experts say these areas could safeguard some of the most important areas at sea for the flightless birds.
The findings, published on Penguin Awareness Day, suggest that, if all the MPAS proposed around Antarctica were adopted, the permanent conservation of high-quality areas for penguins would increase by between 49 per cent and 100 per cent depending on the species.
The Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica is home to thousands of unique species, including seals, whales and four species of penguins - the Adelie, Chinstrap, Gentoo and Emperor.
Many of these creatures feed on krill, tiny shrimplike crustaceans, but these are also the target of large commercial fisheries, who harvest them for a variety of krill-based products including fish food.
Researchers say penguins are often considered an indicator species whose populations reflect the state of the surrounding marine environment.
However, many of their vital habitats are unprotected, leaving them susceptible to human-related threats such as pollution, overfishing and climate change, the researchers say.
Lead author Dr Jonathan Handley, of Birdlife International, said: "Our findings provide critical evidence about the location and relevance of some of the most important areas globally for chick-rearing adult penguins breeding in Antarctica and nearby islands."