Aker Biomarine: committed to sustainability.(Supply Source) - Nutraceuticals World

As an integrated biotechnology company that supplies biomarine ingredients through an optimized value chain, Oslo, Norway-based Aker BioMarine ASA is uniquely positioned to deliver value-added solutions to the nutraceutical and aquaculture markets.

The company's Superba Krill oil offers a compelling nutritional profile. 'The pholipid-bound EPA and DHA present in Superba Krill oil provide highly bioavailable omega 3 fatty acids for use in a number of food categories, including beverages, cereals, cheese and dairy products, as well as dietary supplements,' said Eric Anderson, vice president of sales and marketing with the company's U.S. subsidiary, Aker BioMarine Antarctic US.

Recently, FDA accepted with no objections notification that Superba Krill oil is Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for use as a food ingredient based on an independent review of research. 'This acceptance, plus FDA's recent acknowledgement of Aker BioMarine Antarctic's New Dietary Ingredient (NDT) notification, provides regulatory support for existing and prospective customers of Superba Krill oil for inclusion in new products and in new markets,' Mr. Anderson noted. The company is actively exploring functional food applications in the U.S. and Europe, where Superba Krill oil was approved under the Novel Foods regulation, he added.

The company also supplies its Qrill brand krill meal and oil products for aqua-culture feed markets.

Committed to sustainability, Aker Bio-Marine employs its proprietary Eco-Har-vesting technology, which results in almost total elimination of by-catch and other environmental impacts. In June 2010, the company's krill-fishing operations received Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification as a sustainable fishery, making Aker the first MSC-certified krill fishery in the world, according to Mr. Anderson.'Aker BioMarine products can now carry the MSC eco-label, providing consumers with a guarantee of sustainability, effective fisheries management and full traceability from sea to shelf. In order to maintain MSC certification Aker will undergo annual auditing and will have to meet and maintain certain benchmarks and conditions.'

All fishing vessels operating in the oceans of Antarctica must meet standards set by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), but Aker BioMarine Antarctic has taken responsible harvesting a step further.

For example, the company has partnered with MRAG, a leading consulting company committed to sustainable resource management to use data collected on the company's vessel Saga Sea, in scientific estimates of the krill biomass. An additional project with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and MRAG will evaluate and docu-ment any by-catch of fish larvae in the company's krill harvest operation.

Aker is also a cofounder of the Association of Responsible Krill Harvesting Companies (ARK), a global krill industry association developed to promote research for the sustainable harvest of Antarctic krill and to generate scientific data from krill fishing operations in order to facilitate CCAMLR's management of the krill fishery.

'We adhere to the highest environmental standards in all aspects of operations and are focused on managing our krill fishing operations in a manner that emphasizes sustainable harvesting practices and minimizes environmental impact,' Mr. Anderson said.

He also noted that scientists and conservationists have acknowledged krill is a highly sustainable biomass. 'Nina Jensen, conservation director for the World Wildlife Fund-Norway, recently spoke about krill sustainability and went so far as to say publicly that krill are one of the ocean's largest known underexploited stocks '

As for the omega 3 industry at large, Mr. Anderson said krill phospholipids are an important part of the category's future. 'Consumers view omega 3 fatty acids as a vital part of their health regimens. Although there is a huge body of research supporting the importance of omega 3 fatty acids, we continue to invest heavily in research and development. Multiple clinical studies have demonstrated the high bio-efficiency of krill's phospholipid EPA and DHA. Additional study and clinical trials are underway to further explore the unique benefits of krill phospholipids.'

Aker BioMarine Antarctic US, Inc.

410 Newport Way NW, Suite D

Issaquah, WA 98027

Telephone: 206-855-2636

Fax: 206-855-6727

E-mail: info.us@akerbiomarine.com

Website: www.akerbiomarine.com;