Sustainability has been at the core of Aker BioMarine’s business model since its inception, and today the company is taking that dedication to a new level. Aker BioMarine, a leading supplier of krill-derived products to the consumer health and wellness and animal nutrition market, has made a commitment to the Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund (AWR), a first-of-its-kind partnership between key academia, scientists and NGOs operating in Antarctica.

AWR was established in January 2015 by The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Norway), The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) and Aker BioMarine Antarctic AS, and the goal is to better understand the marine ecosystem in Antarctica and to learn more about krill’s vital role where as a keystone species it supports whales, seals, penguins, albatrosses, fish and other wildlife. Leading business groups like Aker BioMarine will help to raise significant funds for this research and a Science Advisory Group will evaluate and prioritize scientific research proposals for the Board of the Fund.

AWR officially launched in Sydney on February 24 at the seminar titled “Norway and Australia: Partners in Antarctica and for Sustainable Oceans.” During the seminar company representative, Elisabeth Røkke, announced Aker BioMarine’s financial commitment of $500,000 to the AWR. Aker BioMarine introduced the AWR to the U.S. market at an event called “Sustainable Harmony” during ExpoWest on Friday, March 6th.

“Aker’s hope in joining the Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund is that others (businesses and environmental groups alike) will follow suit and come together for the good of the project,” said Sigve Nordrum, Sustainability Director, Aker BioMarine. “This innovative partnership is exactly what we need on a global level to keep the future of sustainability moving in the right direction.”

“The work of the AWR is crucial to expanding our knowledge of krill in the Southern Ocean,” said Mark Epstein, chairman of AWR and Executive Director of ASOC. “Through AWR’s research funding, we aim to ensure a healthy Antarctic ecosystem in the future, not just for krill, but for all of the species dependent on it, and that adequate science-based protection and management structures are put in place to that end.”

The Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund will raise donations from commercial and private partners in order to facilitate and promote research on the Antarctic ecosystem

For more information on The Antarctic Wildlife Research Fund, visit: www.antarcticresearchfund.org.