According to the Norway Post, the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries has awarded a total of four licenses for krill-fisheries in the Antarctic.
Aker BioMarine has been awarded two of the licenses.
The Aker licenses are related to the vessels Saga Sea and Atlantic Navigator. Saga Sea has already been operating on a temporarily license in the Antarctic. Catch and processing of krill on Saga Sea started late last year.
Aker Biomarine says the processing equipment on board has performed beyond expectations, lifting yields 30-40 per cent above initial estimates. The second krill vessel, Atlantic Navigator, will be ready for operation in 2009, effectively doubling Aker BioMarine’s processing capacity for high quality krill meal and oils.
The two other licenses were awarded to Ervik Marine Services and to Krill Seaproducts.
Norway has been given the right to four licenses through its membership in the organisation CCAMLR (The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living).
