Two companies which rely on krill to make omega-3 rich nutraceutical products have said that krill harvesting in the Southern Ocean is sustainable, despite fears that super swarms of the tiny crustaceans could lead to over-fishing.

A spokesman for biotechnology company Aker BioMarine argued that less than one percent of the lowest estimates of krill biomass are harvested each year.

Israel biotechnology company Enzymotec also said that its krill harvesting policy is sustainable. The company said it had tightened its policy recently and now inspects and verifies that each shipment is harvested within the limits of the zone and dates for which the specific fishing vessels had received its fishing license from the regulatory body.