Natural Health Articles on Dr. Mercola’s Members Only Blog

Are You Being Duped by the Krill (Un)Sustainability Story?

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 10:34:17 GMT

By Dr. Mercola

Did you know krill is the largest biomass in the world? It weighs more than any other population of animals -- or humans, for that matter -- on earth.

There are more krill on the planet than any other creature, and all the evidence points to the fact that krill is in no danger of over harvesting anytime in the near future. In fact, krill harvesting is one of the MOST sustainable practices on the planet.

Krill harvesting is also one of the most carefully regulated, using strict international precautionary catch limit regulations that are reviewed and reassessed regularly to assure sustainability.

Many studies show the biomass of Antarctic krill range anywhere from 170 million to 740 million tons, averaging around 420 million tons, with an annual reproduction rate of several hundred million tons. This ensures a very large standing stock of renewable krill for both natural predators and human use.

From 1990 until today the annual krill harvest is approximately a modest ONE TENTH of one million tons. It should be quite obvious that this is a very small fraction of the total amount of krill in the ocean. There are 4000X more krill than are actually harvested.

But that doesn’t mean it’s being harvested willy-nilly. No, it’s clearly understood that without krill, many of the species in the food chain would quickly perish, so krill harvesting is very strictly regulated for that very reason. And, as you will soon see, the actual harvesting rate is a mere fraction of the precautionary catch limits that have been carefully calculated to assure sustainability.

Commission of 25 Countries Oversee Krill Harvesting

Krill can be found in all oceans, but Antarctic krill is by far the most abundant.

The Antarctic krill biomass is under the management of an international organism of 25 countries called the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).

This is the ONLY official and reliable international organism involved in the management of sustainable krill fishery and the monitoring of krill stock, and no shortage of krill has ever been forecasted by CCAMLR.

CCAMLR is viewed as an outstanding framework that is well organized and has developed robust research programs to help ensure successful conservation measures in the Southern Ocean.

They also have the authority to further micromanage, on a season to season basis, to counteract any concerns they may have regarding the strength of the krill population during a particular harvesting season.

Precautionary Approach Ensures Eco-Friendliness

The CCAMLR has implemented a ‘precautionary approach’ in order to minimize any risks associated with harvesting practices in conditions of uncertainty.

They also use an ‘ecosystem approach,’ meaning they take into account ecological links between different species and natural variability, such as the natural, cyclical rise and fall in reproduction of a species, for example.

The CCAMLR follows several key principles of conservation:

a) Prevention of decrease in the size of any harvested population to levels below those which ensure its stable recruitment. For this purpose its size should not be allowed to fall below a level close to that which ensures the greatest net annual increment

b) Maintenance of the ecological relationships between harvested, dependent and related populations of Antarctic marine living resources and the restoration of depleted populations to the levels defined in sub-paragraph (a) above; and

c) Prevention of changes or minimization of the risk of changes in the marine ecosystem which are not potentially reversible over two or three decades, taking into account the state of available knowledge of the direct and indirect impact of harvesting, the effect of the introduction of alien species, the effects of associated activities on the marine ecosystem and of the effects of environmental changes, with the aim of making possible the sustained conservation of Antarctic marine living resources.

Based to the above principles, the CCAMLR convention defines the harvesting areas (as shown on the map below), and sets catch limits for each area.

The CCAMLR also organizes the strategic issuing of mandatory krill harvesting licenses as another control measure to promote sustainability, and are proactively combating illegal fishing of all kinds within the Convention Area, to protect the ecosystem.

Precautionary Catch Limits and Actual Harvests

Antarctic krill harvesting began in 1961, with an historical peak harvest of just under 529,000 tons for the 1981/82 season. However, the mean annual catch rate has dropped significantly since then. Less than 120,000 tons a year (mean) was harvested between 2002 and 2007.

Meanwhile, the precautionary catch limit for 2008 set by the CCAMLR, based on recent surveys of krill stock, was 6.6 million tons.

Only about two percent of the precautionary catch limit has ever been harvested in any given year. This is an extraordinarily low number so let me state it another way. Krill harvesting could increase 50-fold and still be considered safe.

Why Demand for Krill Oil Does Not Constitute an Environmental Threat

Some media sources have accused krill oil consumers of stealing food from the mouths of whales, but with the estimated baleen whale consumption being approximately 85 million tons per year, the actual mean total annual catch equals a mere 0.14 percent of the whales’ consumption. If you aren’t good with numbers that is LESS than one fifth of one percent!

It’s also worth noting that of the total krill harvest each year, almost 88 percent of the catches are used for sport fishing bait and krill meal for fish farms. The rest, 12 percent, is sold for human consumption, with less than 1 percent being processed into krill oil supplements.

So clearly, any statement that krill oil supplements are decimating the food chain is a horrible distortion of the truth.

Eco-Harvesting Strategies Also Help Retain Eco Friendliness of Krill Fishing

Aker BioMarine, who harvests our krill oil, holds two of the four krill harvesting licenses issued in Norway, is one of the leaders in eco-harvesting of krill.

They explain:

“In general it is recognized that about 80-90 percent of the energy is 'lost' going from one level in the ecological value chain to the next level. From this perspective it is hence FAR more efficient the lower in the eco-system the resource is utilized.

"Krill as a source for food and nutrients is consequently a very energy efficient source from an ecological perspective.”

Aker BioMarine has harvested krill in the Antarctic since 2003, and based on their experience, they’ve developed a proprietary eco-harvesting technology.

The technology uses a specially designed trawl system with a direct hose connection between the trawl and the vessel, along with a mechanism that singles out unwanted by-catch and releases it back into the water unharmed.

Eco-harvesting causes minimal environmental impact and prevents the krill from enzymatic degradation, allowing for greater preservation of all key nutrients in the end products.

Additionally, Aker BioMarine has taken the proactive approach to maintain a continuous scientific observer from the British Antarctic Survey onboard their fishing vessel.

Besides being involved in research aboard the vessel, the appointed scientist is responsible for observing and reporting daily to CCAMLR on their harvesting. The reporting includes monitoring the catching process, assessing ecological impact (carbon footprint), and the impact on non-target species such as fish larvae.

The summary report after a recent fishing season confirmed that:

There were no seabird entanglements or observed collisions with the vessel
No marine mammals were entangled in the fishing gear during the observation period
Although fur seals were seen all over the net bodies whenever they were close to the surface, there were no observed entanglements with the fishing gear

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is also Actively Involved in Krill Sustainability

The WWF has been working actively with CCAMLR for many years, and is also a member of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) working to protect krill and the other resources in the Southern Ocean.

They’re currently working on implementing fine-scale management plans for the krill fishery, which includes implementing ecosystem-based management and applying a highly precautionary approach to managing krill harvesting practices that allows for existing uncertainties, including the impacts of climate change.

The MSC Eco Label Offers Assurance of Sustainable Practices and Traceability

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification focuses on the health of ocean stocks and how they are managed, in addition to assessing the effect of the fishery on the wider ecosystem. This includes a range of marine mammals, birds and fish.

Companies who have completed the certification can offer yet another layer of assurance to their customers. The MSC eco label provides a guarantee of sustainable fishing practices, as well as full traceability through the chain of custody, from beginning to end.

Why Krill Oil is Your Best Omega-3 Option for DHA and EPA

In my view, krill oil is clearly your best option when it comes to obtaining important high quality animal based omega-3 fats. It contains essential EPA and DHA in a double chain phospholipid structure that makes it far more absorbable than the omega-3s in fish oil.

Krill oil also contains vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin D and canthaxanthin, which is a potent anti-oxidant. Research has shown the anti-oxidant potency of krill oil is, in terms of ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorptance Capacity) values, 48 times more potent than fish oil.

And, as opposed to krill, over-fishing IS indeed a reality!

Because rather than following scientists’ recommendations and using precautionary approaches to ensure sustainability of fish stocks, fishing agreements and deals have frequently been brokered by politicians, and quotas for fishing fleets are on average 15 to 30 percent higher than those recommended as safe by scientists.

Oftentimes, for less threatened species, the quotas were set 100 percent higher than recommended by environmental scientists.

This is not the case with krill harvesting, which is being assessed and monitored from season to season by qualified scientists and concerned ecological experts from the 25 countries making up the CCAMLR.

So, take your krill oil. Its omega-3’s are essential for good health. And it won’t harm the environment, or deplete the food chain.

REFERENCES

HEWITT R.P., J.L. WATKINS, M. NAGANOBU et al., 2002. Setting a precautionary catch limit for Antarctic krill. Oceanography, Volume 15 (3): 26-33. Published by The Oceanography Society, MD, USA.

NICOL S & Y ENDO. 1999. Krill fisheries: Development, management and ecosystem management. Aquatic Living Resources 12 (2): 105-120.

SIEGEL V. 2005. Distribution and population dynamics of Euphausia superba: summary of recent findings. Polar Biol. 29: 1-22.

SMETACEK V. & S. NICOL. 2005. Polar ocean ecosystems in a changing world. Nature 437: 362-368.

AkerBioMarine and its Sustainable Krill Harvesting in the Atlantic

Amazing Mathemagic

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:41:40 GMT

In the first video, mathemagician Arthur Benjamin races a team of calculators to figure out 3-digit squares, solves another massive mental equation and guesses a few birthdays. In the second, he offers a bold proposal on how to make math education relevant in the digital age.

Why is Wheat Gluten Disorder on the Rise?

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:41:04 GMT

A study using frozen blood samples taken from Air Force recruits 50 years ago has found that intolerance of wheat gluten, a debilitating digestive condition, is four times more common today than it was in the 1950’s.

The findings contradict the conventional wisdom that the sharp increase in diagnoses of wheat gluten intolerance has come about because of greater awareness and detection. It now seems likely that dramatic changes in the American diet have played a role.

The disease occurs in people whose bodies cannot digest gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. The undigested protein triggers the immune system to attack the lining of the small intestine, causing diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain.

The researchers who conducted the study also found that the recruits who had the undiagnosed digestive disorder, called celiac disease, had a four-fold increase in their risk of death.

When Should You Eat to Fuel Exercise?

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:39:51 GMT

No matter what kind of exercise you do, you need food and water to fuel the effort. But when’s the best time to eat before exercise?

According to Leslie Bonci, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, your food is just like your running shoes or your skis. If you think of it this way, you’ll have a better outcome when you’re physically active.

There are two common mistakes. One is not eating anything before exercise, and that means you’re not putting fuel into your body -- you’ll be more tired and weaker. The second issue is eating too much. Bonci says the right quantity is a fist-sized amount of food an hour before exercise.

At that same time, you should have about 20 ounces of liquid. It takes about 60 minutes for that much liquid to leave the stomach and make its way into the muscle. If you have liquid ahead of time, you’ll be better hydrated when you start to be physically active.

Overweight Kids Are Lonely and Anxious

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:38:11 GMT

A new study has found that overweight children, especially girls, show signs of the negative consequences of being overweight as early as kindergarten.

Both boys and girls who are overweight from kindergarten through third grade display more depression, anxiety and loneliness, and those negative feelings worsen over time.

The researchers examined the social and behavioral development of 8,000 school-age children. They evaluated factors that have not been studied previously, including age at becoming overweight and length of time being overweight.

Movie Characters Who Smoke Influence Teens to Do the Same

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:37:31 GMT

Researchers have determined that movie characters who smoke, regardless of whether they are "good guys" or "bad guys," influence teens to try smoking.

The research also revealed that low-risk teens are more strongly influenced by "bad guy" movie smoking. This suggests that it's alluring for “good” kids to emulate the “bad” characters on the movie screen.

The team of researchers who found these results have been studying the connections between popular culture and risky behavior in adolescents. They have published numerous journal articles that document the link between exposure to smoking and drinking alcohol in movies and teens using tobacco and alcohol.

Natural Compound Stops Leading Cause of Blindness

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:36:52 GMT

Researchers have found a way to use a natural compound to stop diabetic retinopathy, one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States.

The discovery of the compound's function in inflammation and blood vessel formation related to eye disease means scientists can now develop new therapies to halt the disease, which affects as many as five million Americans with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It is caused by changes in blood vessels of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye.

Life-Size Baby Models for Expectant Moms

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:36:12 GMT

A life-sized model of your unborn child, which would fit in the palm of your hand, could soon be a reality for every expectant mother.

Using ultrasound images and MRI, Brazilian designer Jorge Lopes can create a 3-D computer model of a fetus, and a layering printer does the rest. The process is called rapid prototyping, and the result is a life-size model of a fetus.

These models might help parents bond with their babies.

Exercise Fights Fatty Liver Disease

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:35:37 GMT

Counseling patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease on how to increase physical activity leads to health benefits that are independent of changes in weight.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common form of chronic liver disease in developed countries. It is associated with obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, and is characterized by elevated liver enzymes.

Currently, patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are encouraged to alter their lifestyles, but the focus has been on weight loss through dietary changes. But when patients were encouraged to be active for at least 150 minutes per week, they showed improvements in liver enzymes and other metabolic indices which were not connected to weight loss.

Birth Weight and Leukemia

Dr. Mercola — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:34:46 GMT

There may be an association between high birth weight and an increased risk of overall leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. An increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia appears to be associated with both high and low extremes of birth weight.

Researchers conducted an analysis of 32 studies to examine the association between birth weight and childhood leukemia. The analysis included more than 16,500 cases of all types of leukemia.

Compared with normal birth weight, high birth weight was associated with a 35 percent overall increased risk of leukemia, a 23 percent increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and a 40 percent increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia. Low birth weight was associated with a 49 percent increased risk of acute myeloid leukemia.

Mississippi Tops U.S. Obesity Rankings

Dr. Mercola — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:16:20 GMT

The percentage of adults classified as obese went up in 23 U.S. states, but Mississippi, with 32.5 percent, stayed atop the latest annual rankings. In addition, 44.4 percent of Mississippi children ages 10 to 17 are classified as overweight or obese.

Doctors have linked obesity to increased risks of diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and heart disease.

Rounding out the top five states most obese states among adults were West Virginia, with 31.2 percent of its population considered obese; Alabama at 31.1 percent; Tennessee at 30.2 percent; and South Carolina at 29.7 percent.

At the bottom of the rankings, Colorado had the lowest percentage of obese adults, with 18.9 percent. It was followed by Massachusetts at 21.2 percent; Connecticut at 21.3; Rhode Island at 21.7; and Hawaii at 21.8.

Small Weight Loss Ups Fertility

Dr. Mercola — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:12:06 GMT

Obese women who lose even a small amount of weight may boost their chances of getting pregnant.

Researchers carried out a three-month study of 40 obese women who were not ovulating. They found that a 5 percent loss in body weight was linked with a 19 percent increase in blood flow to the womb.

Improved circulation can help trigger the egg release from the ovaries, and may help an embryo implant in the womb.

Anti-Smoking Drugs To Carry Mental Health Warnings

Dr. Mercola — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:11:17 GMT

Two popular anti-smoking drugs will now carry warnings about the risk of severe mental health problems. The FDA said Chantix and Zyban will carry the warnings to alert consumers to the risks of depression and suicidal thoughts when using the drugs.

The drugs also have been reported to cause changes in behavior, hostility and agitation. In many cases, side effects started shortly after use began and ended when the medication was stopped.

The FDA does not know what is causing the changes, and said people taking these products should be monitored by their doctor.

Are Antibiotics in Chicken Eggs Making Canadians Resistant to Meds?

Dr. Mercola — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:47:24 GMT

Disturbing data from the Public Health Agency of Canada reveals that antibiotics used in chicken hatcheries are causing human resistance to the medicines.

Surveillance information from the Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance (CIPARS) “strongly indicates that cephalosporin resistance in humans is moving in lockstep with use of the drug in poultry production.”

Cephalosporin is not approved for use in chickens or eggs, but it is often “robotically injected” into eggs at chicken hatcheries as a preventative measure to stave off infections.

Problem Pregnancies Lead to Autism Risk

Dr. Mercola — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:44:31 GMT

Complications during pregnancy may increase the risk of having a child with autism, according to a review of dozens of studies.

Researchers found the bulk of studies into maternal age and autism suggest the risk increases with age, and that fathers' age may play a role too. The mothers of autistic children were also more likely to have suffered diabetes or bleeding during pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes, which affects 4 percent of pregnancies, was associated with a two-fold increase in the risk of autism, and bleeding in pregnancy was alleged to carry an 81 percent increased risk.