Aker Qrill Company was spun off from Aker BioMarine in 2024, taking over the fleet, vessels, production, sales, and logistics for krill-based feed ingredients. The company now manages the entire process, from harvesting to global distribution, with Aker BioMarine as one of its key customers.
According to Ragnhild Dragøy, Aker Qrill Company’s streamlined structure allows it to specialize in harvesting and feed ingredients. “Aker BioMarine was focusing on many things, but now, we can fully dedicate ourselves to what we do best—maximizing our competence in harvesting, sustainability, and documenting the benefits of krill meal. This focus gives us the opportunity to grow and strengthen our role in the ingredients market,” she told Aquafeed.com at the North Atlantic Seafood Forum.
With backing from Aker Capital and American Investment Partners, the company is investing in upgrading its fleet. “We’ve agreed to buy a new vessel to harvest more and meet the quota available in our area,” Dragøy said.
Product innovations
The company is exploring new product modifications to optimize its krill products. Since the product varies throughout the year, Aker Qrill Company is working to document how different specifications impact various feed industries.
One major innovation is the repositioning of defatted krill meal, a byproduct of Aker BioMarine’s omega-3 oil extraction. “Traditionally called a meal, it’s actually a protein concentrate with unique physical properties and a different sustainability profile. It’s a circular product. We are conducting studies to document how it benefits aquaculture,” Dragøy explained.
Aker Qrill Company is also focusing on maximizing the value of all krill components, for example, the stick water, a high protein liquid from meal production, and astaxanthin-rich oil from a side stream, another circular byproduct increasingly applied in aquaculture.
The company has been conducting trials to support disease management in aquaculture and how to adapt to climate change. “We’ve seen promising results in helping shrimp build immunity and withstand disease challenges. For salmon, krill ingredients can be particularly beneficial during transfer periods or stressful conditions,” Dragøy stated.
The company also sees krill as a key enabler for the adoption of novel feed ingredients. “We are not competing with new ingredients; we recognize that the industry needs a variety of sustainable sources to grow. The challenge is knowing how to use krill effectively in combination with other ingredients, rather than just as an additive,” Dragøy stated.
Krill is a finite resource, and Aker Qrill Company is focused on ensuring it is used for maximum impact. Currently, 80% of its market is split evenly between salmon and shrimp, with the remaining 20% supplying other marine species. The company is also exploring land-based farming and other species that lack documentation.
The future path
Dragøy emphasized the positive energy within the company since becoming independent. “We’ve set a clear strategic direction and feel we are making an important impact in the industry. We are now a fisheries company focused on the aquafeed sector, allowing us to move forward with confidence.”
Aker Qrill Company is committed to sustainably harvested marine ingredients. “We fully support responsible harvesting from the ocean, but as an industry, we must be transparent with consumers. We need to share our successes, acknowledge mistakes, and demonstrate how we correct them.”
“Last year at NASF, the focus was on reporting and setting sustainability targets. This year, the discussion is about maintaining the license to operate in the seafood industry. The reputation of fisheries and aquaculture depends on doing things the right way, and both industries can be sustainable when managed responsibly,” Dragøy concluded.
