Krill

What is krill?

Krill facts

• Antaractic krill is a vital part of the wider ecosystem for that ocean.

• Krill is a small crustacean and a cornerstone in the Antarctic ecosystem since it serves as food for whales, seals, penguins and other species. It is therefore essential that krill fishing is conducted in a sustainable way, informed by science and research.

• Krill are rich in Omega-3 phospholipids and the naturally occurring antioxidant Astaxanthin.

• Krill is processed to form krill oil, sold as a liquid or in capsules for its health benefits. Krill meal and oil is also used in aquaculture and animal feed 

• Fishing in the Antarctic is regulated by the Commission of Antarctic Marine Living Resource (CCAMLR). CCAMLR was set up precisely to forestall the unregulated expansion of fisheries. It is a legally binding international convention between 25 countries to ensure the conservation of the Antarctic ecoystems. 

Why do we harvest krill?

Krill is rich in Omega-3 fats and the naturally occurring antioxidant Astaxanthin. It is processed to form oil and sold as a nutritional supplement in liquid or capsule form. Krill meal and oil are also used in aquaculture and animal feed.

The market for krill oil is growing and so krill fisheries need to be well-managed. Fishing should be informed by science and research and closely monitored to ensure it is sustainable.

Is krill sustainable?

There is no such thing as a sustainable species of fish. Only sustainable populations of fish.

Norway’s Aker BioMarine fishery received its third consecutive certification from the MSC in October 2020. Aker BioMarine was initially certified in 2010 and was the first krill company to carry the MSC ecolabel. Independent assessors noted that Aker BioMarine takes a precautionary approach to catch levels and has minimal bycatch. This fishery has a well-functioning fishery management system, with independent observers present on all of the fishery’s boats in order to check their catch levels. 

Where can I buy sustainable Krill Oil?

Krill oil products carrying the MSC blue fish tick are certified sustainable.

MSC-labelled krill oil comes from a wild-capture fishery that has been independently assessed to the MSC Fisheries Standard.

Companies using the blue fish tick throughout the supply chain have been assessed to ensure products can be traced back to an MSC-certified fishery.

How can we be sure that krill populations are well-managed?

Fishing in the Antarctic is regulated by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resource (CCAMLR). It was set up to prevent the unregulated expansion of krill fisheries.

A legally binding international convention to ensure the conservation of the Antarctic ecosystems was established in 1982. CCAMLR has 26 members and a further 10 countries have agreed to the convention.

The commission takes a cautious approach to fishery management. Recognising the need to protect krill populations, CCAMLR set ‘trigger catch limit’ of 620,000 tonnes, which is one percent of the total estimated biomass.

Over the past decade, krill catch has been increasing, though it remains below the trigger catch limit. In 2019, a catch of almost 400,000 tonnes was reported, the second-largest catch on record.

Climate change and other environmental effects may also have an impact on krill populations. That is why is it important for krill fisheries to be managed at their current precautionary levels, keeping catch low.

Learn more about sustainable krill fishing

All MSC certified fisheries have been assessed against the MSC Fisheries Standard, a science-based set of requirements for sustainable fishing. Assessments are carried out by accredited, independent certifiers and stakeholders can comment throughout the assessment process.  

Norway’s Aker BioMarine fishery received its third consecutive certification from the MSC in October 2020. Aker BioMarine was initially certified in 2010 and was the first krill company to carry the MSC ecolabel. Independent assessors noted that Aker BioMarine takes a precautionary approach to catch levels and has minimal bycatch. This fishery has a well-functioning fishery management system, with independent observers present on all of the fishery’s boats in order to check their catch levels.  

Aker BioMarine has also worked closely with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and scientific institutions. Between 2007 and 2017, the fishery partnered with WWF, who provided technical and strategic advice on protecting the Antarctic ecosystem and setting higher standards for sustainability.  

Major Antarctic krill fishing companies, including Aker BioMarine, have also formed the Association of Responsible Krill Harvesting Companies (ARK). ARK fisheries have agreed to restrict fishing to help protect marine animals that feed on krill. Notably, the fisheries will not operate close to penguin colonies during the breeding season. This action followed a campaign from Greenpeace in 2018.

Does krill fishing threaten Antarctic wildlife such as penguins and whales?

Founded in 2012, the Association of Responsible Krill harvesting companies (ARK) is a group of eight krill fishing companies from four CCAMLR member countries (Norway, the Republic of South Korea, Chile, and China).

The total fishing capacity of ARK members represents over 90% of all krill catches in CCAMLR waters.

ARK fisheries take voluntary steps to help protect Antarctic wildlife. These measures go beyond the requirements of CCAMLR directives and support their ability that meet or exceed the MSC Fisheries Standard.

Krill fishing and penguins

To mitigate the impacts of krill fishing on penguin colonies, fishing industry partners, represented by ARK in collaboration with WWF, have implemented a voluntary seasonal buffer zone of 4,500 km2 – the equivalent of over 84,000 football fields.

This seasonal buffer zone encompasses the foraging and chick-rearing areas for over 74% of chinstrap, almost 98% of Gentoo, and above 91% of Adélie penguin colonies, offering significant protection to most penguins around krill fisheries.

Further year-round voluntary closures around the Antarctic peninsula provide additional protection for penguin colonies during their breeding seasons.

Krill fishing and whales

ARK have implemented the use of seal exclusion devices on their vessels. In a direct and timely response to scientific observer findings of three whale mortalities in the 2020/2021 season, participating vessels adapted these exclusion devices also to exclude whales from the trawl mouth.

Since the whale exclusion devices were fitted, no further whale incidents have been recorded, and the innovation is expected to be adopted industry-wide.

Krill fishing innovation

Furthermore, ARK fishing vessels use eco-harvesting techniques by keeping fishing nets underwater for longer, reducing energy consumption. The technique also benefits wildlife populations: by avoiding repeated casting and retrieval of fishing gear, the risk of unintentional interactions is lessened.

Overall, because of CCAMLR, the MSC and ARK management systems, Antarctic krill fisheries operating within all three programs rate among the most environmentally sustainable and well-regulated fishing operations on the planet.

Explore more sustainable fish to eat

Find more sustainable seafood species that are MSC certified in Australia and New Zealand.

Explore the sustainable seafood guide.