Home / Environment / Antarctic Krill Fishery Faces Sustainability Scrutiny
Antarctic Krill Fishery Faces Sustainability Scrutiny
4 Mar
Summary
- Environmentalists question Aker QRILL's sustainability certification.
- Key conservation measures for Antarctic krill fishing lapsed in 2024.
- Climate change exacerbates threats to krill populations.
Environmental organizations are raising concerns regarding the sustainability certification of Aker QRILL, a major Norwegian krill fishing company. These groups oppose the recommendation to renew the "blue tick" sustainability label, citing increased fishing pressure and significant climate-driven impacts on Antarctica's delicate ecosystem.
Key conservation measures designed to prevent local depletions of krill, essential food for whales, penguins, and seals, lapsed in 2024 due to political disagreements among member nations of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Compounding these issues, scientists have observed climate change accelerating in Antarctica, further endangering krill populations.
A draft assessment report from LRQA, a third-party evaluator for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), recommended Aker QRILL for continued certification. However, environmental groups like the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (Asoc) and WWF-UK have formally objected, arguing that the assessment fails to adequately address the lapsed conservation measures and escalating climate concerns.
While the MSC stated its standards include precautionary catch limits, Aker QRILL's CEO, Matts Johansen, described the NGOs' narrative as "extreme" and counter-productive. He emphasized the company's commitment to advocating for improved conservation measures and marine protected areas, aiming for consensus within CCAMLR.
