Omega-3 and sustainability: is krill an eco-friendly choice?
New research from the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR) confirms the sustainability of krill as a raw material for the production of Omega 3 supplements: the population inhabiting the cold Antarctic waters is strong and stable, as is that of the predators that feed on it. This finding adds to the information from the FAO report on the exploitation of global fishery resources, according to which all monitored stocks in Antarctica are being used sustainably.
With their multiple health benefits, Omega 3 supplements occupy considerable space on the shelves of pharmacies, parapharmacies, and supermarkets.
Fish oil–based products are among the most widespread; after all, fish oil contains the two biologically active Omega 3s (EPA – eicosapentaenoic acid – and DHA – docosahexaenoic acid), the ones the human body needs to keep the heart, brain, and vision functioning optimally and to protect cardiovascular health from the effects of excess triglycerides and high blood pressure.
However, some consumers who are particularly attentive to environmental sustainability frown upon dietary supplements that exploit global fishery resources, which have been severely tested by fishing practices that, especially in the past, did not take into account the need to drastically reduce exploited populations.
In this context, alternative sources of oils rich in Omega 3 other than fish are welcome, provided they meet consumer expectations for sustainability. And krill appears to meet them.
This is confirmed by the annual research conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (IMR), which found that both the Antarctic krill population and that of the whales feeding on it remain stable despite the increasing use of krill as an Omega 3 source for dietary supplement production.
Currently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – an organization promoting sustainable development – classifies Antarctic krill as a species that is essentially not endangered, given the population’s stable trend.
At the same time, whale monitoring programs in the Southern Oceans – for which krill is a major food source – provide data describing a resilient and healthy ecosystem.
Furthermore, according to the 2025 edition of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s Review of the State of World Marine Fishery Resources, Antarctica is the only region in the world where all assessed fishery resources are managed sustainably.
Taken together, these findings highlight the sustainability of Antarctic krill harvesting, which represents a true model of responsible marine resource management.
In a scenario where the world population will reach 9.7 billion people by 2050, the sustainability of ocean exploitation is more important than ever. As emphasized by Qu Dongyu, FAO Director-General, at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, “effective management remains the most powerful tool for conserving fishery resources.”
What krill is
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a small crustacean, similar to a shrimp, that serves as a vital food source for many marine animals (such as whales) and is harvested to produce an oil rich in Omega 3 and a powerful antioxidant (astaxanthin) – the same molecule that gives this oil its characteristic red color.
Data published in scientific literature highlight the potential of oil extracted from this crustacean in the dietary supplement industry. Indeed, its consumption has been associated with desirable effects on inflammation markers, oxidative stress, muscle function, glucose metabolism, and blood lipid levels.
Its use began in the early 1970s; by the late 1980s, nearly 500,000 tons were harvested annually in various regions of the Southern Hemisphere. This widespread interest led to the creation of an international commission – the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) – tasked with preserving the Antarctic marine ecosystem.
CCAMLR does not seek to halt krill fishing but to ensure it is conducted sustainably, taking into account its effects on other ecosystem components. To do so, it enforces strict catch limits, requires real-time monitoring, and imposes voluntary closures to protect sensitive areas.
After the boom of the 1980s, krill fishing activities declined and became concentrated in the southwestern Atlantic, where CCAMLR established an annual catch limit considered a critical threshold that should not be exceeded as a precautionary measure.
The IMR conducts annual monitoring of the krill population in this area of the ocean. The first survey took place between January and February 2011; in 2025 the operations began in Montevideo, Uruguay, on January 19 and ended on February 24 upon returning to the same location, after surveying 28 areas.
A total of 18 different species were identified, amounting to 6.16 million tons of krill – the highest quantity ever observed in this area.
The FAO report
The presentation of the FAO report at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice (UNOC 2025) offered an opportunity to verify how rigorous, science-based management can improve the sustainability of the fishing industry.
FAO has been monitoring the state of global fishery resources since the early 1970s. This activity has contributed to increasing the sustainability of the fishing industry by supporting decision-making and influencing the development of dedicated policies. “The landscape of the fishing industry has evolved since the 1970s – shaped by new technologies, changes in resources, and how we use, manage, and enhance fishery resources,” Qu emphasized. Artificial intelligence has also contributed by expanding – Qu added – the ability to assess more stocks and do so with greater accuracy.
Globally, 64.5% of all fish stocks are exploited within biologically sustainable levels, and 77.2% of fishery landings come from biologically sustainable stocks.
The 10 most landed marine species include, among others, anchovy, Alaska pollock, skipjack tuna, and Atlantic herring; 60% of their stocks are sustainable, and 85.8% of landings come from biologically sustainable stocks.
The sustainability record belongs to tuna and related species, whose stocks were found to be sustainable in 87% of cases, accounting for 99% of landings from sustainably managed resources.
The case of Antarctic Areas, included for the first time in the FAO report, demonstrates how, thanks to international cooperation and decisions based on ecosystem needs, fish stocks can be managed sustainably. Here, 100% of assessed stocks are sustainably managed.
But long-term investments in the Northeast and Southwest Pacific Areas are also yielding results. Here, sustainability rates reach 92.7% and 85%, respectively, with sustainability estimates for 2021 landings at 99% and 95.7%.
Unfortunately, despite these improvements, many other areas remain under pressure, and 35.5% of fish stocks are classified as overexploited. In recent years, this overexploitation has increased by an average of 1% per year; a significant gap also persists between sustainably managed areas and those that do not meet sustainability requirements.
In particular, Area 37, corresponding to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, is showing early signs of improvement, but only 35.1% of its stocks are sustainably exploited.
Among the most vulnerable species are those living in deep waters, sustainably fished in only 29% of cases; concern also persists for sharks undertaking long-distance migrations, which often become entangled in tuna nets.
How to ensure sustainable Omega 3 supplements: sustainability certifications
There is a way to ensure sustainable Omega 3 supplements: simply look for sustainability certifications on the packaging, such as the Friend of the Sea label.
Friend of the Sea is a project that certifies products and services that respect and protect the marine environment. It is the only sustainable fishing certification recognized and overseen globally by a national accreditation body.
In addition to rewarding sustainable practices in the fishing, aquaculture, fishmeal, and Omega 3–rich fish oil sectors, Friend of the Sea promotes pilot projects in various areas connected in different ways to marine well-being, such as the restaurant industry and cosmetics with sunscreen filters.
Friend of the Sea–certified Omega 3 supplements are produced from raw materials obtained through:
- good fishing practices;
- the use of selective fishing gear;
- socially responsible activities.
References:
Attri N, Arora D, Saini R, Chandel M, Suthar P, Dhiman A. Health promoting benefits of krill oil: mechanisms, bioactive combinations, and advanced encapsulation technologies. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2024 Nov 15;34(6):1285-1308. doi: 10.1007/s10068-024-01737-3
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. FAO at UNOC 2025: FAO releases most comprehensive and participatory global assessment of marine fish stocks to date. Last accessed: 31/10/25
Institute of Marine Research. Antarctic krill and ecosystem monitoring survey off the South Orkney Islands in 2025. Last accessed: 31/10/25
United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. World Population Prospects 2022: Summary of Results. July 2022
