In the icy waters surrounding Antarctica, a 10-kilometer stretch of sea is colored a reddish-brown. An Antarctic krill super-swarm floats along, millions of tons of shrimp-like crustaceans feeding on phytoplankton. The World Wildlife Fund estimates there are over 700 trillion adult individuals spanning up to 32 million square kilometers of the Antarctic Ocean, but even a number as high as this isn’t enough to keep them from threat.

Antarctic krill are other victims of the combined effects of ocean warming and loss of sea ice, further threatened by ocean acidification and increasing interest in the krill-fishing industry.

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Krill fishing has emerged as a vital industry, particularly in the production of omega-3 supplements and aquaculture feed. The ecological significance of krill, a key species feeding a multitude of Antarctic life from fish to whales, seals to penguins, underscores the need for stringent traceability measures in fishing practices.

Traceability can ensure the sustainability and ecological integrity of Antarctic waters. Implementing robust traceability systems in krill fishing can help enforce compliance with conservation methods set forth by such international bodies as the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and the Marine Stewardship Council.

“Commercial krill harvesting in Antarctica takes place mainly in ‘Area 48’ and is strictly regulated by the CCAMLR,” according to Aker BioMarine, a krill-harvesting company. “Only 0.3 percent of the krill biomass in Area 48 is harvested annually by all fishing companies.”

These measures are designed to prevent overfishing and minimize the environmental impact of fishing activities. By tracing the origin, path and processing of krill products, stakeholders can ensure the krill was harvested responsibly, adhering to quotas and protected areas, thereby reducing the risk of ecological imbalance.

“It is critical for globally traded goods to know where sources are coming from,” the Aker BioMarine website states. “Our krill-harvesting vessels record the exact location of each krill catch which is associated with each batch of krill oil produced. We can trace our krill oil all the way back to its origins in Antarctica.”

Rimfrost is another company harvesting krill for omega-3 supplements. It reports its catch data electronically by satellite on a daily basis both to Norwegian authorities (in accordance with Norwegian requirements for a Norwegian company) and CCAMLR: “We always know in real-time how much, where and when the krill has been caught. All our products can be traced back to the GPS coordinated and the exact time of catching the krill.”

“Traceability is the answer and technologies are key,” Fransisco Aldon, CEO of MarinTrust writes. “Standardization of data is key.”