Antarctic krill fishery is one of the cleanest fishery in the world due to its low bycatch rate, according to research.
The krill fishery bycatch ranges from 0.1–0.3%, compared to other fishery bycatch levels ranging from 10% - 55%, according to the report which was published in Fisheries Management and Ecology. The report note that understanding and controlling bycatch levels is essential for sustainable fishing and maintaining a healthy species population. Observers collected registered bycatch data from the Antarctic krill fishery in the Southern Ocean during the 2010–2020 fishing seasons. The observers found that the bycatch ratio (0.1–0.3%) was stable and well below other fishery bycatch levels.
Eco Harvesting is Aker BioMarine’s patented technology for continuous trawling. This technology ensures efficient and safe harvesting as the trawl is kept submerged under water for long periods at a time, compared to traditional trawling, where you haul up to ten times a day. When it comes to fisheries, hauling is regarded as high risk, specifically when the trawl is exposed and can lead to bycatch of non-target species and entanglement of birds. Eco Harvesting minimizes this risk with lesser hauls. The system is also fitted with a mammal exclusion device and monitored by acoustic sensors ensuring mammals do not enter the trawl.
Sustainability, transparency, and responsibility are characteristics of our company governance and way of operating. To us, it makes no sense to take something out of the ocean to improve our health, if it simultaneously compromises the health of the ocean. Read more about how Aker BioMarine sustainability efforts here.
