China and Norway push to increase krill harvests around Antarctica – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
China and Norway are pressing for larger harvests of krill in the Southern Ocean, a move that could reshape how much of this tiny crustacean reaches global seafood markets. Krill sits at the base of the Antarctic food web and supports many fish species that end up on dinner tables worldwide. The push comes as both nations back their fishing fleets with policy and funding while environmental groups raise alarms over ecosystem risks. A key decision point now sits on the calendar for October 2026.
Norway’s Bold Proposal at the Table
At the October 2025 meeting of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources in Hobart, Australia, Norway put forward a plan to replace the current fixed catch limits. The proposal would have allowed nearly twice as much krill to be taken from the Southern Ocean. All 27 member nations must agree on such changes, and the measure fell short of consensus.
Without approval, the existing rules remain in place for now. Norwegian officials and industry leaders view the fixed limits as outdated and too restrictive for growing demand. They argue that updated management could support sustainable growth while still protecting the stock.
Who Stands to Gain from Larger Harvests
Norway’s Aker QRILL, spun off in 2024 from Aker BioMarine, already dominates the fishery. The company took 63 percent of the total Southern Ocean krill catch in 2024 and 52 percent in the 2025 season. Its fleet operates year-round in the region and supplies krill products used in aquaculture feed and human supplements.
China maintains a growing presence in the same waters and has aligned with Norway on expanding the overall quota. Both countries continue to provide political backing and financial support to their operators. The combined effort aims to increase supply for a market that values krill oil and meal as high-protein ingredients.
How This Could Reach American Seafood Plates
Krill forms the foundation for many species that Americans regularly consume, including salmon, pollock, and other whitefish. Any sustained increase in krill removals could tighten the base of that chain and eventually influence availability or prices further up the line. Industry analysts note that aquaculture operations already rely heavily on krill-derived feeds to raise farmed fish.
Retailers and processors watch these developments closely because even small shifts in raw material costs can appear on grocery shelves within a season or two. The current tension between harvest expansion and conservation goals leaves the long-term supply picture uncertain.
What Matters Now
The next CCAMLR meeting in October 2026 will decide whether new management rules move forward or stay blocked.
Until then, the existing catch limits continue to govern the fishery. Both Norway and China have signaled they will keep advocating for change, while conservation groups prepare to defend current protections. The outcome will shape how much krill enters global supply chains and, by extension, how much seafood reaches consumers in the years ahead.
