From fishing to feed: The sustainability of krill

By Aker BioMarine

QRILL Aqua by Aker BioMarine is spotlighting two recently published scientific studies that are raising the bar for sustainability in fisheries and aquaculture. Together, these studies highlight how innovative approaches can yield greater eCiciency and less impact for the industry while simultaneously improving performance results.

A real-life example from Aker BioMarine’s krill fishery

The first study, titled “Sustainability activities in a hard-to-abate industry – a real-life example”, was authored by scientists at Aker BioMarine. It oCers a comprehensive analysis of sustainability in fisheries and production, emphasizing transparency, innovation, and the significant reduction of CO₂ emissions.

“This study is unique in that it details innovative and transparent practices in a sustainable fishery based on Aker BioMarine’s own operations, with examples of initiatives such as CO₂ hotspot mapping and targeted greenhouse gas emissions reductions,” says Ragnhild Dragøy, VP Product Management and Sustainability, Aker BioMarine, and one of the study’s authors.

The study highlights initiatives for a continued sustainable fishery:

• Sustainable use of the krill biomass: Aker BioMarine prioritizes the sustainable utilization of the krill biomass. This means the products are used either as nutritious omega-3 or protein products for human consumption or directly in aquaculture feed, following the ‘food first’ principle and ensuring little to no waste.
• CO₂ hotspot mapping: Aker BioMarine uses CO₂ hotspot mapping to map CO₂ emissions along the value chain, enabling the company to target specific areas for emissions reduction. In this, Aker BioMarine learned that most emissions were related to fishery operations and transportation to and from the fishing field.
• Reducing energy consumption: Aker BioMarine introduced several targeted emissions reduction initiatives on board vessels and during fishing. As part of this, the company implemented a digital application called “Krillviz” to make better, data-driven decisions during fishing operations, incorporating data from drones and AI to locate krill.

The role of feed in sustainable aquaculture

The second study, titled “Minimum dietary level and mix ratio of krill meal and fish meal to elicit feed intake and growth performance in juvenile Penaeus vannamei”, was jointly authored by Instituto de Ciências do Mar – LABOMAR and Aker BioMarine. It oCers critical insights into the optimal inclusion levels of krill meal in shrimp diets, and the role ingredients play in developing more sustainable and eCective feeds.

“The feed represents a significant portion of aquaculture’s carbon footprint, and using feed ingredients that are both eCective and sustainable can significantly impact the operation,” says Lena Burri, Director R&D, Animal Nutrition and Health, Aker BioMarine. “What we learned from this recent shrimp feed trial was that krill meal is one such sustainable marine ingredient that can significantly enhance shrimp growth and support the broader goal of increasing aquaculture eCiciency.”

Key findings from the LABOMAR and Aker BioMarine shrimp feeding trial:

• Optimal inclusion levels for shrimp feed: The study concludes that 1.5% inclusion of krill meal in the diets of whiteleg shrimp optimizes growth performance. While 1.5% was found to be eCective in this specific study, the general recommendation based on numerous studies is to include 3% krill mean to ensure consistent growth performance across diCerent aquaculture settings.
• Reduced use of less sustainable marine ingredients: The researchers demonstrated that other, less sustainable marine ingredients could be reduced by up to 75% when combined with krill meal as a means of meeting sustainability targets and improving cost eCiciency.
• A balanced nutritional profile: The use of krill meal enhanced the nutritional quality of the feed due to its balanced amino acid and fatty acid profile. This can lead to improved feed eCiciency and better growth outcomes.

Committed to sustainable growth in aquaculture

Research plays an important role in advancing both the eCiciency and sustainability of aquaculture, and Aker BioMarine has long invested in furthering its scientific knowledge about krill, the fishery, and the Antarctic ecosystem around it.

“What we can learn from both these studies is that strong performance results and sustainability go hand-in-hand in our industry. These studies highlight a holistic approach to reducing CO₂ emissions, better resource utilization, and optimized feed solutions that together work to reduce the environmental footprint. Our hope is that these types of initiatives can help set higher standards for the industry and unite us in a commitment to protect the ocean resources on which we depend,” says Ragnhild Dragøy, VP Product Management and Sustainability, Aker BioMarine.