MSC objection pauses Antarctic krill certification review for QRILL Company fishery

The Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) reassessment of The QRILL Company Antarctic krill fishery has been paused after formal objections from two environmental organizations challenged the draft certification decision.

The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) submitted objections on March 1 and 2, respectively, triggering the MSC’s formal objection procedure. Under MSC rules, certification cannot proceed until that process is completed.

The reassessment concerns the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) fishery operated by Aker BioMarine subsidiary The QRILL Company. The fishery operates in the Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Sea region, designated as Area 48 by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

The certification process is conducted by LRQA, the conformity assessment body appointed to evaluate whether the fishery meets MSC sustainability standards.

According to MSC assessment documents, LRQA issued a Final Draft Report during the reassessment process in 2025 concluding that the fishery meets the MSC Fisheries Standard, subject to several conditions. The subsequent objections from ASOC and WWF challenge aspects of that determination.

Under MSC procedures, objections are reviewed by an independent adjudicator who evaluates whether the assessment process was properly conducted and whether the evidence supports the certification decision.

In its objection announcement, ASOC said the draft certification decision does not adequately account for changes in the management framework governing the krill fishery in Area 48.

According to ASOC, the lapse of certain spatial catch-distribution measures previously used by CCAMLR could allow harvesting to become more concentrated in areas where krill are an important food source for wildlife, including whales, penguins, and seals.

WWF raised similar concerns in a statement linked to its whale conservation initiative, arguing that current management arrangements may not sufficiently protect key feeding grounds for recovering whale populations.

Both organizations linked their objections to broader debates within CCAMLR over how krill catches should be geographically distributed across Area 48.

Antarctic krill harvesting is regulated by CCAMLR through a precautionary management system intended to limit fishing pressure while maintaining ecosystem stability.

Under the current framework, total catch in Area 48 is capped by an interim “trigger level” of 620,000 tonnes. When catches reach that level, additional spatial management rules are intended to govern how fishing effort is distributed across smaller subareas.

According to the CCAMLR Fishery Report 2024 for Area 48, krill catches have increased in recent years as new vessels entered the fishery and demand for krill-derived products expanded.

Reported catches in Area 48 have grown steadily over the past decade.

Source: CCAMLR Fishery Report 2024 (Euphausia superba, Area 48).

The reported 2024 catch represents one of the highest annual totals recorded for the fishery, though still below the trigger level of 620,000 tonnes.

The fleet operating in Area 48 is dominated by Norwegian vessels, with additional participation from operators based in China and the Republic of Korea, according to CCAMLR reporting.

Antarctic krill is processed into products including aquafeed additives, livestock feed ingredients, and dietary supplements such as krill oil.

The MSC label is widely used by seafood buyers, feed companies, and nutraceutical brands seeking to demonstrate that marine raw materials are sourced from fisheries meeting recognized sustainability standards.

The QRILL Company fishery has been MSC-certified since 2010. The current reassessment represents a routine renewal under the MSC’s periodic review process.

Aker BioMarine has emphasized the importance of sustainability certification in communications with investors. In its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings release, the company highlighted continued growth in krill-based ingredients used in aquaculture feeds, pet food, and human health products.

Demand for marine omega-3 ingredients and functional feed additives has contributed to the sector’s recent expansion.

The MSC’s objection procedure does not automatically overturn the draft certification decision. Instead, it evaluates whether the certification body followed MSC procedures and whether the assessment adequately considered available evidence.

Possible outcomes include confirmation of the draft determination, modification of specific certification conditions, or referral of aspects of the assessment for further review.

The timetable for completing the objection process has not been publicly specified. Until the procedure is resolved, the reassessment of the QRILL Company Antarctic krill fishery remains paused. For companies purchasing krill-derived ingredients, the dispute introduces uncertainty over the timing of the fishery’s certification renewal.