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

• Published in: Ambio
• Main Authors: Prado-Cabrero, Alfonso, Nolan, John M.
• Other Authors: Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Science and Business Media LLC 2021
• Subjects: Ecology; Environmental Chemistry; Geography, Planning and Development; General Medicine; Antarctic; Arctic; Southern Ocean; Antarc*; Antarctic Krill; Calanus finmarchicus; Climate change
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13280-020-01472-z; https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13280-020-01472-z.pdf; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13280-020-01472-z/fulltext.html

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.