The krill oil used across our supplement range is Superba2, supplied by Aker BioMarine. It is sourced from Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) harvested in the Southern Ocean. We selected it deliberately: the fishery behind it is one of the most carefully managed in the world, and every batch can be traced back to where and when it was caught. This article sets out how that sourcing works, the standards that underpin it, and what it means for brand owners using krill oil in their own products.
Where the krill comes from
The krill is Antarctic krill, harvested in Area 48 of the Southern Ocean - the single region where the fishery operates. Harvesting is carried out by Aker QRILL Company (AQC), Aker BioMarine’s sister company, which grew out of Aker BioMarine’s own former fishing operations. Aker BioMarine sources all of its krill through AQC, which gives a single, consistent chain from catch through to the finished ingredient.
How the krill is harvested
Harvesting uses Aker BioMarine’s Eco-Harvesting technology: a continuously submerged mid-water trawl that draws krill aboard through a hose rather than repeatedly hauling a conventional net. It is designed to be selective, keeping bycatch of other species to around 0.2–0.3%, which is among the lowest of any fishery. Every AQC vessel carries an independent scientific observer, and catch and effort data is reported in near-real time and shared openly with researchers and conservation bodies.
How the fishery is regulated
The fishery is governed by CCAMLR, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources - an intergovernmental body of 27 member states responsible for managing marine life in the Southern Ocean. CCAMLR uses an ecosystem-based approach, meaning the health of the whole Antarctic ecosystem, not just the krill stock, guides its decisions, and its Scientific Committee reviews population and ecosystem data every year.
The headline figure is the catch limit. Total annual harvesting is held below 1% of the estimated krill biomass, which stands at roughly 68 million tonnes. For context, many fisheries are still considered sustainable while harvesting closer to 10% of their biomass, so the krill fishery operates with a substantial margin of caution built in.
Independent certifications and assessments
The fishery’s credentials are verified by independent bodies rather than self-declared:
Standard or body | What it confirms |
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) | Sustainable harvesting and full chain-of-custody traceability; the fishery has held MSC certification for over a decade. |
Friend of the Sea (FOS) | Independent certification of sustainable sourcing. |
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) | The only reduction fishery to hold an ‘A’ rating for biomass health, sustained over multiple consecutive years. |
UN FAO (2025) | Classified the Antarctic krill fishery as sustainably fished in its 2025 global review of marine fishery resources. |
CCAMLR | The intergovernmental framework setting catch limits and applying ecosystem-based management to the fishery. |
Traceability of every batch
GPS systems on AQC’s vessels record the exact harvest location of each batch, and MSC chain-of-custody certification carries that traceability through the supply chain.
What it means for your brand
Any brand holders wishing to add krill oil to their supplement range benefit from a high quality omega with a sustainability focussed ethos. Superba2 is a premium raw material with high ethical standards - you're in good hands!