Aker’s krill banned in the U.S.?
As the World’s hunger for more health-promoting seafood continues to grow, credible marine scientists and government regulators agree that most of this increased demand will have to be provided by some form of aquaculture or fish farming. Equally well understood is the fact that the supply of raw materials for making fish feed is becoming a challenge, with only so much fish meal and fish oil coming from conventional sources. A relatively new fishery for a previously untapped resource has been developed by among others, the Norwegian company Aker BioMarine. But as Aquafeed.com reports, this source of marine ingredients might not be allowed in fish feed sold in the U.S.; At the Midyear Meeting of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), Dr. Mika Alewynse, team leader for nutrition and labeling and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration official responsible for reviewing and approving feed ingredients in the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, announced that krill meal is not shrimp meal and therefore, does not have FDA’s approval for feeding to fish or other animals. Although this seems to have been their position for some time, it had not been publicly announced.
Richard Sellers, Vice President American Feed Industry Association, who attended the January 21-24 meeting in Albuquerque, NM, told Aquafeed.com this has long been the agency’s position. He said, “I’d heard this position in some private meetings, but due to confusion by state feed regulatory officials, FDA decided to announce its position at this national meeting.” Dr. Alewynse said firms wishing to either market or use krill meal will have to petition FDA to gain approval.
In the U.S., feed ingredients must either be prior approved or generally recognized as safe use in feed for any animals. Approval by FDA usually causes such ingredients to be added to the AAFCO Official Publication, which is referenced in nearly all state feed laws as the official list of ingredient definition. Sellers said he will notify AFIA members involved in aquaculture about the announcement.
According to its web site, QRILL™ is Aker BioMarine’s registered brand name for its Krill Meal and Krill Oil products for animal nutrition. Their Omega-3 bound Phospholipids and natural Astaxanthin contents make QRILL™ ideal for aquaculture and animal feeds. These bioactive ingredients have been documented as delivering positive effects in fish, animals and humans. QRILL™ products are available around the world.
The FDA’s exclusion of krill as an approved substance in fish feed is likely an administrative oversight rather than a deliberate ban of a product for reasons such as conservation-related concerns. As Aker explains, it is working closely with the World Wildlife Fund and its krill fishery is certified by the MSC;
Conservation group WWF Norway and Aker BioMarine – the world’s largest krill producing company – have joined forces by way of a formal cooperation agreement to ensure that the krill fishery is sustainable and environmentally friendly. Aker BioMarine’s krill fishery is certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), an independent, global, non-profit organization that works to promote the best choices in sustainable seafood. Aker BioMarine is the first and currently only participant in the krill fishery to receive the MSC certification because of its commitment to environmental harvesting, managed catch levels, and responsible approach to fishing.
Salmon fed on Aker BioMarine’s QRILL™ AQUA Meal weighs between 18 to 23 percent more than salmon fed on conventional feed, according to research performed by Nofima Marine, a leading Norwegian aquaculture research center, the company says.
