Jaquelyn Burton Jaquelyn Burton

Exploring Sustainable Krill Harvesting and Biotech Innovations for a Better Ocean Industry

Have you ever wondered how we could achieve the most sustainable fishing operation in the world? Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Matts Johansen, the CEO of Aker BioMarine, who shed light on the role of krill fishing in achieving this goal. Krill, the most abundant species on the planet, is a tiny crustacean with a biomass twice the size of the human population. As a vital source of nutrition at the bottom of the food chain, krill has enormous significance in the world's oceans.

Introduction

Have you ever wondered how we could achieve the most sustainable fishing operation in the world? Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Matts Johansen, the CEO of Aker BioMarine, who shed light on the role of krill fishing in achieving this goal. Krill, the most abundant species on the planet, is a tiny crustacean with a biomass twice the size of the human population. As a vital source of nutrition at the bottom of the food chain, krill has enormous significance in the world's oceans. 



Processed krill has many human and food chain health applications, which have gained momentum in recent years. Companies such as Aker BioMarine are leading the charge toward sustainable harvesting practices and biotech innovations to ensure that krill fishing remains sustainable in the long run.



However, one question remains - how can we ensure that initial investments lead to long-term returns for taking potentially more expensive yet socially just positions in the market? Waiting for regulations to force compliance may lead to penalties and lost opportunities. But what if suppliers and energy producers could work together to create synergistic relationships and promote sustainable practices? 



We also discussed the potential of gamification to encourage desirable behavior on vessels by tapping into competitive natures.



It is important to note that sustainable fishing practices go beyond simply catching the right species in the right amounts. It also includes energy consumption during fishing operations, transportation, and processing. Aker BioMarine has taken a holistic approach to its operations, focusing on reducing emissions and carbon intensity. 



For example, they have reduced the carbon intensity of krill production from 5 kg to 2.5 kg of CO2 per tonne of protein produced between 2010 and 2020. Additionally, they have committed to halving the carbon intensity again by 2030, showing their dedication to reducing their carbon footprint.



During our conversation, Matts also highlighted the industry's importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing. The industry can collectively move towards more sustainable practices by working together and sharing best practices. With the increasing demand for protein and the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems, we must prioritize sustainability in the fishing industry. 



Companies like Aker BioMarine are paving the way toward a more sustainable future. Still, it is up to all of us to support these efforts and make responsible choices regarding our food consumption.



The World of Krill: Sustainable Harvesting and Biotech Innovations in Ocean Industries

Krill harvesting is a relatively new field, with the commercialization of krill as a raw material gaining momentum in the past 15 years. Aker BioMarine, as the world's leading krill company, has been at the forefront of developing sustainable harvesting methods and biotech innovations. The company's mission is to build the most sustainable fishery in the world.

Sustainable Harvesting

Data is one of the most significant ways they have reduced the impact of their operations and operating costs. They are cooperating with Ocean Hub to share the data they have collected in their operations, including sonar data for science and open source use - hopefully, to allow themselves and others to increase the efficiency of operations and improve the knowledge of the impact and opportunities that the ocean provides for human and planetary health. 



Aker BioMarine has been committed to sustainably harvesting krill right from its inception. They have invested in developing technology and refining their harvesting methods to minimize environmental impact. By studying the effects of krill-derived molecules on marine life, they have been able to optimize their harvesting practices and reduce the ecological footprint of their operations.



Sustainability is at the forefront of Aker BioMarine's krill harvesting operations. The company has invested in developing technology and refining its harvesting methods to minimize the impact on the environment. By studying the effects of krill-derived molecules on marine life, they have optimized their harvesting practices and reduced the ecological footprint of their operations. Aker BioMarine has also focused on refining krill-derived nutrients and molecules for various applications, such as human health and aquaculture.

Biotech Innovations 

In addition to sustainable harvesting, Aker BioMarine has focused on refining krill-derived nutrients and molecules for various applications. They have built factories onboard their vessels and on land to extract and process these valuable resources. The company has been studying the potential impacts of krill-derived molecules on human health and has been involved in commercializing their findings.



CO2 and Operations in Food and Fisheries

Krill harvesting operations involve trawling in the Antarctic waters, where a single day of trawling at 0.5 knots can result in the catch of 1,200 tons of krill; their vessels operate in a hub system to enable this high volume of catch with lower emissions with the mothership processing and delivering the krill to shore four or five times per year.

While krill fishing is relatively low-emission, it is important to consider its carbon footprint. Matts Johansen, the CEO of Aker BioMarine, has noted that CO2 emissions associated with krill harvesting are estimated at around 2.5kg per ton of krill harvested. Farmed salmon production emits around 9 tons of CO2 per ton of fish, while meat and agriculture production are even more carbon-intensive.



Protein Sources and Carbon Intensity

Protein is an essential component of our diets, but the production and consumption of protein sources can have significant environmental impacts, particularly greenhouse gas emissions. Here is a list of protein sources ordered by their carbon intensity, from least to most intensive:

  • Krill: 0.0025 kg CO2 per kg of protein produced

  • Lentils: Approximately 0.9 kg CO2 per kg of protein produced

  • Tofu: Approximately 2.0 kg CO2 per kg of protein produced

  • Chickpeas: Approximately 1.8 kg CO2 per kg of protein produced

  • Chicken: Approximately 3.7 kg CO2 per kg of meat produced

  • Pork: Approximately 5.8 kg CO2 per kg of meat produced

  • Farmed salmon: Approximately 8.2 kg CO2 per kg of fish produced

  • Beef: Approximately 26.5 kg CO2 per kg of meat produced

  • Lamb: Approximately 39.2 kg CO2 per kg of meat produced

Krill stands out for its low carbon intensity value, estimated to be around 2.5 kg CO2 per tonne of protein produced, according to Aker BioMarine. This estimate considers the carbon footprint of the entire krill harvesting and processing operation, including fuel use, energy consumption, and transportation. Companies like Aker BioMarine have committed to reducing the carbon footprint of their operations and have set sustainability targets to improve their practices further.



Aquaculture 

Krill and its byproducts are used in aquaculture, particularly in fish farming. The nutrients and molecules derived from krill improve the health and quality of salmon and other fish species, making it an essential component of aquaculture practices.

Reducing emissions in the ocean industry is essential to address the global climate crisis. By investing in clean energy technologies and pursuing sustainable practices, we can help reduce the industry's carbon footprint and work towards a more sustainable future.

Conclusion

The world of krill holds immense potential for sustainable harvesting and biotech innovations. Companies like Aker BioMarine have been at the forefront of developing sustainable harvesting methods and refining their practices to minimize the environmental impact. The ocean industry has a critical role to play in addressing the challenges of climate change and sustainability. By investing in clean energy technologies and pursuing sustainable practices, we can help reduce the industry's carbon footprint and work towards a more sustainable future.



Considering the carbon footprint associated with protein production must be part of our work process in designing a better industry. The carbon intensity values for krill are much lower than those for other protein sources, highlighting the potential of krill as a sustainable protein source.



The need for small advances and improvements must be addressed, and everyone in the ocean space can and should be taking steps toward sustainability. Sharing data, investing in technology, pursuing sustainable practices, and promoting a culture of innovation and collaboration are all critical components of the journey toward sustainability. Let us work together to make small daily improvements so that collectively, we can make significant progress towards a sustainable future for all.



There are even more things we spoke about that you can listen to in the interview.

References: 

The Visualization of Carbon Dioxide Levels

The visualization created by Bill Putman shows a supercomputer model of carbon dioxide levels in the Earth's atmosphere compressed into a few minutes of video. The visualization highlights how the dispersion of CO2 is controlled by large-scale weather patterns within the global circulation. It also shows how the concentration of CO2 varies based on the season and location of major emission sources.



  


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