Krill Population Not At Risk

An article published in the November 4 issue of Nature reported a decline in the krill biomass in the Antarctic. As Thorne Research carries a krill oil product, some of our customers may be concerned about how harvesting krill may affect the environment.

Along with our commitment to provide our customers the purest and most bioavailable nutrients possible, Thorne is also sensitive to our impact on the greater ecology, and committed to environmentally responsible practices.

The material used in Thorne's Krill Oil is harvested from the South Georgia Island area of the South Atlantic Ocean. The waters of the South Georgia area are high krill density areas and are not affected by the declines suggested in the Nature article. The South Georgia waters are situated outside of the critical Seasonal Ice Zone (SIZ), an area associated with a lower krill population that is more sensitive to the changes highlighted in the study.

It is estimated that the earth's oceans maintain a collective standing stock of krill - after predation and natural mortality - of approximately 500 million metric tons per year. Of that amount, the Antarctic waters account for 135 million metric tons.

By comparison, the total world average catch of krill from commercial fishing is 110,000 metric tons per year (1999-2003). This comes to only 0.02 percent of the total krill population, and 0.1percent of the Antarctic krill population per year.

Krill are zooplankton crustaceans that are the heart of the food chain for many Antarctic animals, from penguins to seals to whales. Thorne Research is confident the source of this raw material is appropriate and its impact on the environment is not detrimental. Thorne Research will continue to secure its raw material from suppliers who are sensitive to environmental issues and who act responsibly in their commercial activities.