Krill is the foundation of the Antarctic food web, so the way it is fished matters. This page outlines how the fishery is regulated and what producers say about sustainability.
A very abundant resource
Krill is among the most plentiful animal populations on the planet. Whales, penguins, seals and seabirds feed on it, and populations renew each spring during the spawning season. Producers state that less than 1.5 percent of the total krill biomass is harvested in a year. That is a company-reported figure, and independent scientific assessments are available from the regulator.
Rules and oversight
The fishery is governed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), an international body that sets annual catch limits and fishing guidelines. These limits are meant to leave enough krill for the predators that depend on it.
Certification
The brand behind the original site said that its krill oil had been certified for sustainable harvesting by Friend of the Sea, a third-party certification scheme. A buyer who cares about this should look for the current certificate and its scope, since certifications are renewed and can lapse.
What to look for
- A named fishery or supplier and a statement of where the krill was caught.
- A current certificate that can be checked with the scheme.
- Transparency about the share of the quota actually taken.
Continue with the guide to Antarctic krill or the home page.