Russian research institute Vniro has sent research vessel Atlantida on an expedition to provide data on krill stocks in preparation for the country's fleet to harvest the species commercially.

Atlantida is owned by Russian government agency Rosrybolovstvo and is currently located in the South Orkney Islands in the Antarctic Atlantic.

Both an assessment of the environmental conditions and a biological analysis of the krill has been carried out.

In the area where the research vessel is located, there are now six vessels fishing for krill, including two Chinese, three Norwegian and one Ukrainian vessel, the research institute reported.

Among the most prominent of the krill harvesters in the area is Kjell Inge Rokke-owned Aker Biomarine.