- Certifier :
- LRQA (Seafood) Limited
- Certified status :
- Certified
- Certified since :
- 15 Jun 2010
- Certificate expires :
- 14 Dec 2025
Overview
Fisheries are composed of one or more parts, each of which is entitled to receive an MSC certificate. These parts or “units” are defined by their target stock(s), fishing gear type(s) and if relevant vessel type(s), and the fishing fleets or groups of vessels.
When the term “Unit of Certification” is used for fishing units that are in assessment, it refers to the “Unit of Assessment” or “Unit of potential certification”. Expand a status below to view the parts that form this fishery. To check the detailed scope, download the latest certificate or open the Assessments page to get the latest report. Find out more by visiting our page on Fisheries
Catch by Species
| Species | Reported Catch Year | Metric Tonnes |
|---|---|---|
| Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) | 2022 | 297,000 |
Information is provided by an independent Conformity Assessment Body as live weight (the weight of species at the time of catch, before processing) and where a fishing season covers multiple years, the end year is given as the reported catch year. Additional information is available in the latest report, see the assessments page.
Eligibility, client groups and vessel lists
A fishery may choose to define the members of the fishery certificate. These members can be vessels or other client group members (e.g. companies that own vessels and/or companies that are named as eligible to handle certified product covered within the fishery certificate scope). Please refer to the fishery certificate statement on additional product specific eligibility criteria (e.g. product eligibility limitations, eligibility date, exclusive points of landing and the point where Chain of Custody certificate is required). Please consult the fishery Public Certification Report for product eligibility rationale.
| Documents | Published on | Files |
|---|---|---|
| Vessel List | 16 Nov 2023 | 1 files |
About this Fishery
Krill are shrimp-like crustaceans that swarm in dense shoals found particularly in Antarctic waters. They can reach a total length of 62mm.
Krill is estimated to be the most abundant species on Earth by biomass. It plays an essential role in the Antarctic food chain.
Aker Biomarine harvests krill using a specifically developed continuous mid-water/pelagic trawl system, called Eco-Harvesting™. A fine mesh, monitored by underwater cameras, prevents anything larger than krill from entering the system is.
Antarctic krill is one of the best managed species in the world, and one of the most difficult to catch. Aker Biomarine catches less than one-third of 1% of the biomass of krill in Area 48, the main krill fishing ground. Other fisheries catch a little more, but the total catch is limited to below 1% of the total biomass.
Read more about krill fishing in the Antarctic
Find out more about Aker Biomarine’s commitment to sustainability
Market Information
Krill from the Aker Biomarine Antarctic krill fishery is processed into products sold predominantly in the US and European markets. Products include pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and feed for aquaculture.