Krill density, biomass, proportional recruitment and recruitment index in the elephant island region during the period 1977 to 1997

The Elephant Island long-term data set was updated for krill density and proportional recruitment. Krill biomass (from net sampling surveys) and absolute recruitment are introduced as additional indices for this time series. New survey results of the past two seasons indicate a very successful 1994/95 and an average 1995/96 krill year-class (below average for proportional recruitment, average for absolute recruitment). After a period of low krill density in the area for almost a decade, krill density and biomass have increased. Caution is expressed whether this observed increase represents a long-term recovery of the stock.