Aker BioMarine Supports Marine Survey of Krill Sustainability

As demand for krill ingredients increases, three organizations have banded together to survey krill sustainability near the South Orkney Islands off the northeastern tip of Antarctica. The effort is being headed by Norway’s World Wildlife Fund, in cooperation with the Institute of Marine Research, Bergen, and the Marine Research Assessment Group, with support from krill ingredient supplier Aker BioMarine (Oslo, Norway).

Now completed, a research expedition was held to collect scientific data to monitor the health and size of the krill biomass in Antarctica. The survey will provide fresh data to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources by which to monitor and set the annual krill fishing quotas, ensuring that krill fisheries currently in the Antarctic seas are harvesting krill sustainably.

Aker BioMarine donated its krill trawler, Saga Sea, for researchers’ use during the mission, which took place over five days. The company says a full research report should be released later this year.

The company has received praise from WWF-Norway’s Nina Jensen for its contribution: “Taking a week from their harvest season to dedicate to scientific study is a substantial commitment and demonstrates Aker’s understanding of their responsibility as members of the worldwide community concerned with the health of the Antarctic and its living resources.”