Pre-reading Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever eaten food that comes from the ocean? If so, what kind of seafood did you eat? If not, what seafood would you like to try?
- Have you ever seen a whale, seal, or penguin in real life or on TV? If so, where did you see it? If not, which animal would you like to see first?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- closure /KLOH-zher/
[noun] – the situation when something is closed
The store faced closure after many years of service. - consensus /kuhn-SEN-suhs/
[noun] – a generally accepted opinion or decision among a group of people
The team reached consensus on the new school project. - population /pop-yuh-LEY-shuhn/
[noun] – all the people or animals living in a particular place
The city population is growing fast every year. - activity /ak-TIV-i-tee/
[noun] – an action or operation done for a particular purpose in a specific area
Construction activity near rivers can endanger fish and birds. - viability /vahy-uh-BIL-i-tee/
[noun] – the ability to work as intended or to succeed
The viability of the plan was checked by the group.
Article Reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Krill fishing in Antarctica has reached a record during the 2024–2025 season, with more than 518,000 tons already harvested by July. This number is about 84 percent of the 620,000-ton limit set by international rules. The large catch may cause an early closure if the maximum is reached soon. Krill, a small crustacean, is essential in the Southern Ocean as food for whales, seals, and penguins. Research showed that krill also remove about 20 million tons of carbon from the air every year, equal to five million cars being taken off the road. The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) manages the fishery, but talks in 2024 failed to reach consensus on quotas and protected areas, leaving outdated rules in place.
The rising catch has produced both benefits and concerns. Industry groups insisted that levels remain sustainable, based on scientific studies of the krill population. However, environmental groups voiced strong opposition, saying that intensive activity in narrow zones threatens whales, with some trapped in nets. Experts stressed that krill serve as a bulwark against climate change, making their survival an imperative need. Without stronger conservation, populations may face a precipitous decline, harming the entire ecosystem. The contentious CCAMLR debates show the difficulty of building multilateral agreements while protecting long-term resilience and viability of Antarctic resources.
The rising catch has produced both benefits and concerns. Industry groups insisted that levels remain sustainable, based on scientific studies of the krill population. However, environmental groups voiced strong opposition, saying that intensive activity in narrow zones threatens whales, with some trapped in nets. Experts stressed that krill serve as a bulwark against climate change, making their survival an imperative need. Without stronger conservation, populations may face a precipitous decline, harming the entire ecosystem. The contentious CCAMLR debates show the difficulty of building multilateral agreements while protecting long-term resilience and viability of Antarctic resources.
Comprehension Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What record amount of krill was harvested in July 2025?
- What percentage of the catch limit did this number reach?
- What may happen if the maximum catch is reached soon?
- What animals in the Southern Ocean eat krill?
- How much carbon do krill remove from the air each year?
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever learned about animals that depend on the ocean? If so, which animals? If not, what animals would you like to learn about?
- Have you ever joined a group activity to protect nature? If so, what did you do? If not, what would you like to try?
- Do you agree that protecting krill is as important as protecting whales?
- Why do you think krill are important for both people and animals?
- How can governments find balance between the economy and the environment?