Overfishing Krill (Secondary) - Lesson Four
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Lesson duration is: 45 minIntroduction
This lesson covers the reasons why krill is caught and what it is used for.
Instructions
Time: 45 minutes
Contact: education@seashepherdglobal.org
© Sea Shepherd 2025
Instructions
Items in this lesson
Slide 1 - Slide
This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 and is a marine conservation organisation working to protect the oceans and marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the oceans, running numerous direct action campaigns each year.
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During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.
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We have looked at the role of krill in the ecosystem and how they are being caught. Now we will look at why krill is being fished and what it is used for.
Ask students: “Why do you think krill is being caught?”
Ask students: “Why do you think krill is being caught?”
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Historically, krill has been consumed in Russia and Southeast Asian countries, either stir-fried and added to many traditional dishes (called okiami in Japan), fermented then ground up and sold as shrimp paste (called Bagoong alamang in the Philippines), or used in liquid form for fish sauce condiments.
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In the past two decades, the demand for krill has more than doubled because of the growing and lucrative aquaculture industries.
As the demand for fish keeps rising worldwide and fisheries are increasingly overfished, krill is being used by the aquaculture industry to supplement the fishmeal for farmed fish, particularly salmon. Consumers might think they’re protecting marine wildlife by consuming farmed fish but they don’t realise they’re still indirectly consuming wild caught fish fed with krill.
Krill is what gives farmed salmon its pink colour.
As the demand for fish keeps rising worldwide and fisheries are increasingly overfished, krill is being used by the aquaculture industry to supplement the fishmeal for farmed fish, particularly salmon. Consumers might think they’re protecting marine wildlife by consuming farmed fish but they don’t realise they’re still indirectly consuming wild caught fish fed with krill.
Krill is what gives farmed salmon its pink colour.
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In the early 2000s the krill industry found they could package and sell krill oil supplements to western consumers looking for “pure” alternatives to fish oil omega-3 fatty acid supplements. The supplement industry as a whole is growing, and the market for Antarctic krill oil supplements is predicted to rise steadily over the next decade.
According to a report published this January 2023 by Global Industry Analysts, the $531-million market for krill oil health supplements is projected to rise to $941 million by 2026.
According to a report published this January 2023 by Global Industry Analysts, the $531-million market for krill oil health supplements is projected to rise to $941 million by 2026.
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The krill industry keeps looking to diversify its markets, so krill is also sold as fish bait, livestock food, and pet food (including food for aquarium fish).
Ask students if they can think of any other products.
Ask students if they can think of any other products.
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Close
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Refer Lesson Guide for activity suggestions.