The world's largest krill harvester, Aker QRILL, is at the center of a heated debate over sustainability labels. Environmental groups are up in arms about the Norwegian krill fishing giant's potential recertification for the prestigious 'blue tick' label, operated by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). This label, awarded since 2010, is in question due to concerns about the impact of concentrated fishing and climate change on Antarctica's delicate ecosystem.
Krill, a tiny crustacean, is a vital component of Antarctica's ecosystem and food chain. Aker QRILL, along with its sister company Aker BioMarine, produces feed additives for aquaculture and dietary supplements for pets and humans. The company's krill products have been labeled 'sustainable' by the MSC since 2010, but recent developments have raised red flags.
Environmentalists argue that the management of the Antarctic krill fishery has deteriorated since Aker's last certification in 2020. Holly Curry, from the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), a conservation charity, strongly opposes the recertification recommendation. She highlights the worsening management, citing lapsed conservation measures.
The WWF-UK's Rhona Kent echoes these concerns, calling for an immediate moratorium on krill fishing and a review of the MSC's sustainability certification. The issue stems from the failure to renew a key conservation measure in 2024, which would have dispersed krill catches across the Southern Ocean to prevent local depletion. China and Russia, CCAMLR nations, blocked the agreement, and in 2025, countries still couldn't reach a consensus on conservation measures.
This has led to worries about the depletion of krill, a primary food source for whales, penguins, and seals, in critical feeding grounds. British Antarctic Survey scientists warn that climate-driven changes in Antarctica are occurring faster than expected, putting krill populations, a crucial climate buffer, at risk.
ASOC and the WWF have written to third-party evaluators and the MSC, arguing that the current assessment ignores deepening climate concerns and lapsed conservation measures. David Attenborough, in his documentary 'Ocean,' also expressed similar worries, stating that industrial krill trawlers might be threatening the foundations of an entire ecosystem.
Despite these concerns, a draft report by LRQA, a third-party assessment body, recommended certifying Aker's fishery for another five years. Holly Curry expressed disappointment that the evaluators didn't address ASOC's concerns about the sustainability of krill fishing. ASOC has now submitted formal objections to the report, which will be reviewed by an independent adjudicator.
The MSC spokesperson defended their standards, emphasizing precautionary catch limits and effective management systems. They assured that all fisheries seeking certification must demonstrate effective management, including measures taken by relevant bodies like CCAMLR.
Matts Johansen, Aker QRILL's CEO, refutes the NGOs' 'extreme narrative,' emphasizing the need for cooperation and consensus at CCAMLR. His company is actively working behind the scenes to resolve the deadlock on conservation measures, with visits to China, and has no plans to expand its fishery.
The debate rages on, with environmental groups, scientists, and industry representatives divided. The future of krill fishing in Antarctica hangs in the balance, as the MSC and Aker QRILL navigate the complex web of sustainability, conservation, and economic interests.
