{"id":514775,"date":"2026-03-02T23:21:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T23:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/514775\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T23:21:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T23:21:13","slug":"controversial-side-to-popular-product-on-aussie-shelves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/514775\/","title":{"rendered":"Controversial side to popular product on Aussie shelves"},"content":{"rendered":"

Krill oil<\/a>, a popular Omega-3 supplement sold at chemists around Australia,<\/a> is facing increased scrutiny, with its sustainability credentials questioned by multiple international environment charities. Most recently, WWF has lodged an objection with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)<\/a>, calling for the certification of the Antarctic fishery from which krill is harvested to be immediately reviewed.<\/p>\n

Over 500,000 tonnes of krill are taken from the environment each year, which the industry says it can do \u201csustainably\u201d. But conservationists argue the rules have changed since the fishery was certified and the process is now being \u201cmismanaged\u201d.<\/p>\n

WWF-Australia\u2019s ocean conservation manager Emily Grilly told Yahoo News that there could be \u201cterrible impacts\u201d on species that depend on krill.<\/a> They can include whales<\/a>, seals and penguins.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Antarctica, the ecosystem is very fragile,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s happening now with the fishery is they can take very high catches from small regions that overlap with key foraging grounds for wildlife.\u201d<\/p>\n

What’s changed about krill harvesting?<\/p>\n

Under an international agreement, ships worked a wide catchment area to ensure that waters with the highest abundance were not depleted<\/a>. But in 2024, this conservation measure lapsed, meaning they could target areas, and the catch limit was reached in record time.<\/p>\n

WWF-UK\u2019s Rhona Kent said she believes \u201cthe mismanagement of the krill fishery is having a negative impact\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWWF is calling for an immediate moratorium on krill fishing and a review of the sustainability certification issued by the MSC until more precautionary fisheries management measures are agreed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

MSC recognises ‘need to protect’ Antarctica<\/p>\n

MSC said it recognises “the unique nature of the Antarctic ecosystem” and the “need to protect it”, but said it cannot comment on ongoing assessments.<\/p>\n

“The independent assessors published their final draft report earlier this month,” it told Yahoo News.<\/p>\n

“Stakeholders have 15 working days in which to submit objections to the independent auditor\u2019s findings.”<\/p>\n

\"Captain<\/p>\n

Captain Paul Watson has launched a mission to challenge krill harvesters. Source: Captain Paul Watson Foundation<\/p>\n

Industry criticised from multiple fronts<\/p>\n

Sea Shepherd founder and Greenpeace co-founder, Captain Paul Watson, has taken direct action against the ships launched by China and Norway.<\/p>\n

In the early 2000s, his crews targeted Japanese whalers illegally operating in the Southern Ocean.<\/a><\/p>\n

In 2026, through his latest conservation venture \u2014 the Captain Paul Watson Foundation \u2014 he launched a convoy of ships from Eden, NSW, to \u201cdefend Antarctica\u201d against the harvesters.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the oceans die, we die,\u201d says Captain Paul Watson. \u201cKrill are the blood of the sea. Without them, the whales, penguins, fish and birds will starve, and the ocean will fall silent.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2025, Bob Brown Foundation began a campaign urging a consumer boycott of krill products <\/a>and targeting international companies that profit from the harvest.<\/p>\n

They included one of the biggest suppliers of krill supplements, Chinese-owned Swisse, and its supplier, the world\u2019s largest harvester, Norway\u2019s Aker BioMarine.<\/p>\n

At the time, Aker BioMarine CEO Matts Johansen told Yahoo News the major problem facing the industry was a \u201cperception issue\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is actually one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world,\u201d he told Yahoo News in November.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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