Climate Ready: Stanford study suggests consumer demand of krill puts pressure on recovering whale population [Video]

STANFORD, Calif. (KGO) — Staying “Climate Ready” can often mean staying aware of the impact we make with our choices.

Researchers at Stanford are raising concerns about a popular health food product that could be impacting the recovery of whale populations.

They say it’s creating a competition for an ingredient the whales also need to survive.

Shop online or at local health food stores, and you’re likely to find nutritional supplements advertising Antarctic krill.

While the tiny shrimp-like creatures are rich in omega-3 fatty acid, they’re also a critical food source for blue whales, humpbacks and other species. And now, Stanford researchers believe that over-fishing of krill may be putting populations under pressure.

MORE: Bay Area fishermen hopeful for Dungeness crab season after successful testing of new type of traps

“So, if you draw a line straight south of South America until you hit Antarctica, that’s about where in the southern ocean we’re fishing for …