Omega-3 nutraceuticals, climate change and threats to the environment: The cases of Antarctic krill and Calanus finmarchicus

Abstract

The nutraceutical market for EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is promoting fishing for Euphasia superba (Antarctic krill) in the Southern Ocean and Calanus finmarchicus in Norwegian waters. This industry argues that these species are underexploited, but they are essential in their ecosystems, and climate change is altering their geographical distribution. In this perspective, we advocate the cessation of fishing for these species to produce nutraceuticals with EPA and DHA. We argue that this is possible because, contrary to what this industry promotes, the benefits of these fatty acids only seem significant to specific population groups, and not for the general population. Next, we explain that this is desirable because there is evidence that these fisheries may interact with the impact of climate change. Greener sources of EPA and DHA are already available on the market, and their reasonable use would ease pressure on the Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems.

Intensive production of the harpacticoid copepod Tigriopus californicus in a zero-effluent ‘green water’ bioreactor

“…Precisely these nutritional characteristics make Tigriopus biomass a potential substitute for Antarctic krill and Calanus oils for human consumption as a nutraceutical. Other researchers and ourselves believe that capturing Antarctic krill and Calanus finmarchicus in the ocean to supply this market is detrimental to the ecosystem 48 , 49 . Therefore, land-based production of these nutrients can help reduce these fishing practices.…”

The carrying capacity of the seas and oceans for future sustainable food production: Current scientific knowledge gaps

“…Additional evidence of a reduction in krill CPUE and a higher spatial concentration of fishing (Santa Cruz et al, 2022) further supports the need for improving fisheries management and considering more refined spatial scales. Such a management approach should be informed by better science and understanding of krill ecology (e.g., behaviour, movement and relation with oceanographic conditions) and the role of krill as prey of the most vulnerable species (Prado‐Cabrero & Nolan, 2021; Trathan et al, 2022).…”

“…At present, both Antarctic krill and C. finmarchicus have a further recognized value for human consumption and in aquaculture, being used in the form of feed additive, given they accumulate oils rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), see, for instance, the review of Eysteinsson et al (2018) on C. finmarchicus . Recently, the added value of such foods for the production of nutraceuticals for human diet has been challenged by Prado‐Cabrero and Nolan (2021) for two reasons. First, enhanced consumption of EPA and DHA would significantly benefit only specific groups and not the general human population.…”

“…First, enhanced consumption of EPA and DHA would significantly benefit only specific groups and not the general human population. Second, the removal of key players in the food web could affect bio-geochemical fluxes and possibly climate regulation (Prado-Cabrero & Nolan, 2021). Accordingly, the authors suggest the use of other sources of EPA and DHA to supply nutraceuticals for human consumption.…”