Krill is a tiny, free-swimming species of crustacean. There are over 80 different species of krill. The best-known species is the so-called "Antarctic krill," *Euphausia superba*. Only this species lives in large swarms in the deep, cold waters of the Antarctic. Krill is at the beginning of the food chain and lives in the cleanest waters, meaning it is barely burdened by pesticides, pollutants, or heavy metals. Krill oil contains a unique combination of nutrients of the purest and highest quality, offering many health-promoting benefits.
Krill: the world's largest biomass
With 400–500 million tons, krill represents the world's largest biomass of a single species. More than half of the krill, 200–300 million tons, is eaten annually by whales, penguins, and squid. Important to know: less than one percent of the amounts consumed by these animals is harvested annually.
Controlled catch quotas
The catch quotas for krill are strictly controlled by an international commission that protects the balance of nature in the Antarctic: the CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources).
Fishing without bycatch
Krill is caught in a very gentle way. This fishing method was developed and patented by Aker BioMarineTM. And this is how it works: the krill is pumped alive on board underwater through an innovative pumping system. There, it is processed and frozen while fresh. Chemical-synthetic deodorization processes are avoided. Back to the catching method: with the special trawl system, only krill is caught, and unwanted bycatch of dolphins, seals, whales, or birds is avoided.
Look for the MSC seal on fish products
Aker BioMarineTM carries the blue MSC seal for certified sustainable fishing from the Marine Stewardship Council. In addition, Aker BioMarineTM works closely with the environmental organization WWF. The blue seal stands for sustainable fishing. Every fishery that receives the blue seal commits to operating according to MSC criteria. This includes ensuring that the fishing method causes minimal environmental impact, that unwanted bycatch is avoided, and that in the case of krill, the krill population is guaranteed and thus no overfishing occurs.
Which krill oil product to choose?
When choosing krill products, there is another quality indicator, the SuperbaTM seal. Look for this seal on krill oil packaging. Medicom sources its krill oil from Aker BioMarine. There are also manufacturers on the market who offer krill oil imitations or krill oils mixed with other substances. SuperbaTM Krill Oil from Aker BioMarine is the only krill oil that has received the MSC seal for sustainable and environmentally friendly fishing. If you look for the MSC seal and the Superba seal, you are on the safe side. Here is another good tip: if you want to know where your krill oil comes from, you have the option of finding out about the fishing zone. If you have purchased Nobilin Krillöl® Omega 3 Plus or Nobilin Krillöl® Forte, you can trace its origin.
Environmental award for Aker BioMarineTM
The ecological fishing method of Aker BioMarineTM has been recognized in the past with the NBT Award (Nutraceutical Business & Technology) for excellent environmental performance.
Are you interested in products with krill oil? You will find them here.
