Sustainable Giant: Antarctic Krill Tops Global Biomass and Management Scores
FAO Identifies Antarctic Krill as One of the World’s Most Sustainable Fisheries
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has released its 2025 Review of the State of World Marine Fishery Resources, placing Antarctic krill among the most sustainably managed fisheries on the planet.
According to the report, Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) stands out for its exceptional abundance and robust management. The species boasts the highest known biomass of any fishery resource globally—an estimated 379 million tonnes circumpolar. In CCAMLR Area 48 (Antarctic Peninsula and Scotia Sea), the most recent survey in 2019 estimated biomass at 62.6 million tonnes[1].
By comparison, the combined global biomass of other key forage species—such as Peruvian anchovy, Pacific sardine, and capelin—rarely exceeds 100 million tonnes. The 2025 biomass estimate for Peruvian anchovy is 11 million tonnes[2].
Despite its vast abundance, krill harvests remain exceptionally low. In 2024, total catch reached just 500,000 tonnes—merely 0.8% of the estimated biomass and well below the precautionary catch limit of 5.61 million tonnes established by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). In contrast, fisheries such as Peruvian anchovy allow catches of up to 27% of biomass.
What sets krill apart is its ecosystem-based management approach. CCAMLR applies strict catch limits, a precautionary “trigger level” to avoid local depletion, and a 75% escapement rule designed to protect krill-dependent predators. This contrasts with many forage fisheries managed under the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) principle, which often lacks multi-species or ecosystem safeguards.
The Antarctic krill fishery also demonstrates remarkably low bycatch levels—typically just 0.1% to 0.3% of total catch[3]. Midwater trawl gear minimizes contact with the seabed, and exclusion devices have further reduced incidental capture of marine mammals.
While challenges remain—such as climate uncertainty, limited survey frequency, and risks of localized depletion—CCAMLR’s governance model stands as a benchmark for sustainability. The FAO report underscores that most forage fish fisheries still lack comparable precautionary or ecosystem-based frameworks.
Antarctic krill is not only abundant—it is responsibly managed. As pressure on global forage fish stocks grows, the krill fishery offers a leading example of science-based, precautionary stewardship.
