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First ice
December 9th - Day 11
Woke this morning to find ourselves in close pack ice, which we were pretty happy about because ice keeps the ocean calm. Everyone is enjoying a nice break from the ship rolling about. Plus, a calm spot like this is ideal for bringing the helicopter up to the deck, and getting some work done on the speedboats.
The other reason we are happy is that having found the ice edge, we are likely closer to finding the whalers.
As the ice edge melts, algae that has been growing in and under the ice is released into the water. Krill (like tiny shrimp) feed on the algae, and the rest of the ecosystem relies on the krill as the foundation of the food chain. This includes minke whales, which hang around the ice edge feeding on krill and fish.
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The whalers know this, of course. They will likely be down at the ice edge as well, and based on what they have done in the past, Kieran (the expedition leader) suspects that they are somewhere in this area. We've been on the lookout for them for a few days now. Hopefully, we'll find them soon.
Want help the crew stop whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary?
Join the Global Whale Action Team to receive updates and alerts about how you can pitch in.
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