The Antarctic krill fishery has been under considerable scrutiny the last several years, mainly due to misconceptions surrounding sustainability. In an effort to address those concerns with facts, Stephen Nicol, PhD, a respected scientific expert on Antarctic krill, has authored a new white paper, “A Look Below the Surface: Antarctic Krill Sustainability.”In straightforward language Dr. Nicol sums up decades of research, providing the reader with deeper insight into the krill fishery and its management.  
 
Underwritten by Aker BioMarine, an integrated biotechnology company dedicated to the sustainable harvest of krill and development of krill-derived biotech products, the white paper candidly addresses such topics as what is known about the health of krill, controversies on the size of the krill population and the level of catch limits, warming ocean waters, acidification, commercial harvesting and its impact on predator species, and more.
 
“This white paper lays out what we know about the Antarctic krill population, the development of this fishery and its management. I think it is important to provide this summary to clear up any confusion,” said Dr. Nicol. “In the end, I believe the Antarctic krill fishery should be held up as the global example of sustainable marine resource management. In fact, I believe it is one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world.”
 
Specific areas highlighted in the paper include:
 
·      The history of krill harvesting 
·      Krill’s behavior and population changes 
·      How krill stocks are managed to keep them healthy and ensure there is sufficient krill for predators such as penguins and whales 
·      CCAMLR’s role in krill sustainability, NGO participation, and the importance of MSC certification 
·      What krill harvesters in Antarctica/The Southern Ocean are collectively doing to manage their operations in a sustainable manner and what they can do better  
·      Aker BioMarine’s proactive approach toward sustainability 
 
“Omega-3s are some of the most sought after nutritional ingredients in the world, but with some consumers marine-based options are becoming a major concern,” said Becky Wright, communications & marketing manager of Aker BioMarine. “We felt compelled to help tell the story behind the Antarctic krill fishery by going below the surface on key issues of concern to people. Another goal of this white paper is to stay ahead of the curve as the issues of sustainability and traceability increasingly become part of the omega-3 conversation.”