Seventh top sustainability award for nutraceutical krill supplier
The biotech and krill-harvester is one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world and produces a range of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical krill oil products for humans and animals.
In the SFP’s latest 2021 review, the company’s Antarctic Krill Fishery earned between eight and 10 points for all categories and topped the list for overall sustainability.
A-ratings are awarded to fisheries that score more than eight points (out of a possible 10) and denotes a ‘very well-managed’ sustainable operation.
Aker BioMarine Director of Sustainability and Antarctic Affairs, Pål Skogrand said it is encouraging to receive validation for the fishery’s performance at a time of heightened scrutiny and within the context of environmental constraints.
He commented: “In a time where oceans are under pressure from climate change, fisheries and fisheries management are put under high scrutiny. It is reassuring for us to have another validation of the performance of the krill fishery from a strong source like SFP.”
Marine sustainability
Aker BioMarine attributes the consistent A rating of the fishery to “its precautionary approach to krill management, stringent catch limits and a small but forward-looking industry which sets huge industry standards”.
The company actively collaborates with industry stakeholders, including the Antarctic and South Ocean Coalition and World Wildlife Fund-Norway, to ensure robust fishery management techniques under the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) are maintained and constantly improved.
Aker BioMarine also supported the development of the Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund, which facilitates and promotes Antarctic marine ecosystem research to improve management of the krill fishery and launched a new business called Aion in 2020, which offers an end-to-end circular service for waste recycling and reusable materials.
“Sustainability is at the core of everything we do and it’s up to the ocean industries like ourselves to work methodically and sustainably over time to ensure that we are using this resource responsibly, if we are to succeed in ensuring the longevity of the oceans,” said Skogrand.
Meanwhile, future climate targets include achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and specifically a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 compared to 2020 levels, as well as contributing to the decarbonisation in other food and nutrition sectors through its low-carbon product offerings.
SFP Review
The Sustainable Fisheries Partnership is an independent, non-profit organisation responsible for the most up-to-date assessment of stocks and fisheries in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
It tracks individual stock and fishery performance within each food sector to leverage market forces and deliver improvements to industry practice.
The rating system employed evaluates fisheries in five key areas: management strategy, manager’s and fishers’ compliance to TAC levels, and current and future stock health.
In its 2021 sustainability review, the SFP states it has seen positive progress and observed an increased commitment to sustainable sourcing throughout the seafood industry and active improvements in fisheries in general, which are both strong indications of positive change.
“The analysis estimates that 79% of the total catch volume comes from stocks that are reasonably well-managed (or better), a 43% increase compared to last year.
"It is possible to identify an overall positive trend in the sustainability performance of most of the reduction fisheries of the North Atlantic and Eastern Pacific regions,” it said.
