WWF-Australia and Norwegian krill fishing company Aker BioMarine have formed a new partnership to set higher standards for sustainability in the Southern Ocean and to ensure better protection for Antarctic ecosystems.
In the area of the Southern Ocean where Aker BioMarine operates, the current krill catch represents less than half of one per cent of the total biomass of krill. However, given the importance of krill to the Southern Ocean food web, WWF-Australia says that it is critical that krill harvesting is done in the most sustainable way.
“Krill is the lifeblood of the Southern Ocean because it supports large numbers of whales, seals, penguins, and other Antarctic wildlife,” said Bob Zuur, manager of WWF’s Antarctic and Southern Ocean program.
Aker BioMarine has already achieved several conservation achievements and was the first krill fishing operation to be awarded Marine Stewardship Council certification.
The new partnership will focus on:
- Supporting the Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund to better understand any competition between fishing boats and penguins, seals and whales for the krill they eat
- Supporting the Fund to research the impacts of climate change on krill populations and the wildlife that depend on them
- Further reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Aker BioMarine’s fishing vessels
- Seeking support from CCAMLR members to conduct a comprehensive krill survey in the Southern Ocean
- Encouraging other krill fishing operators to embrace sustainable methods and MSC certification
“We in Aker BioMarine take our responsibility to sustainability very seriously. We are confident that in following the advice of the world’s leading NGOs and scientists, as well as all the rules set by the international and national authorities, we can continue to operate in a highly sustainable manner,” said Matts Johansen, CEO of Aker BioMarine.
