Second vessel MSC certified

Aker BioMarine Antarctic’s second krill harvesting vessel, Antarctic Sea, has been added to Aker BioMarines Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.

Antarctic Sea was purchased by Aker BioMarine Antarctic in October 2011 and after rebuilding the ship, installing new processing equipment and fishing gear, Antarctic Sea began harvesting in June 2012.

The MSC is the internationally recognized leader in marine eco-certification labels. This label is the exclusive mark of a sustainable, well-managed fishery and is based on a robust scientific assessment.

According to MSC, its eco-label is built upon three basic principles: the health of the stock, the environmental impact of the fishery and traceability throughout the value chain. It adheres to the most rigorous international standards in order to ensure that marine populations and the ecosystems in which they live remain healthy and productive for today and future generations.

“Aker BioMarine Antarctic collaborates with international conservation and fishery management groups such as WWF Norway, CCAMLR, and MRAG. We actively support ongoing research on the health of the krill biomass and the krill fishery’s impact on other wildlife in the area we harvest,” says Matts Johansen, executive vice president of sales and marketing in Aker BioMarine Antarctic.

“The krill fishery has been stable for many years now, and the small increase we have seen in recent years comes from Aker BioMarine. Even when Aker BioMarine has reached capacity for both vessels, the total catch will still be significant lower than the allocated quota.”

Leading retailers, including the largest health food retailer in the USA, have identified MSC as their choice of certifying body for fresh caught seafood. QRILL™ is sustainably harvested by Aker BioMarine Antarctic with eco-friendly methods in the Southern Atlantic Ocean near Antarctica.

Fish farmers across the world now value krill meal as a sustainable ingredient in their feed.