Blackmores Eco-Krill

Blackmores Eco-Krill

In a landmark announcement for the natural healthcare industry, Blackmores has partnered with the global conservation organisation WWF as part of its commitment to achieving the highest possible standard of sustainability* for its fish and krill oils – launching the Blackmores and WWF Sustainable Fish Oils Partnership.

The Blackmores and WWF Sustainable Fish Oils Partnership is a three-year engagement to help Blackmores achieve the highest possible standard for sustainable fish oils by 2015, and represents Blackmores' commitment to fulfilling a vision of healthy oceans, healthy communities and sustainable business practices.

Blackmores has also signed the WWF Sustainable Seafood Charter. The Charter jointly commits Blackmores and WWF to:
Contribute to a future in which sustainable fisheries thrive in healthy ecosystems, benefiting people, businesses and species that depend on them.
Work together towards sustainable fisheries management and aquaculture production.
Safeguard valuable marine ecosystems, ensuring the long-term viability of seafood supply that we all depend on.

The partnership announcement coincides with the launch of Blackmores Eco Krill, which is sourced from sustainable fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). MSC is recognised by WWF as the most rigorous sustainability certification available.

Krill is the food source of ocean creatures such as whales, penguins and seals and that's why it is important to ensure the sustainability of krill in our oceans. Blackmores Eco Krill is the only krill oil available in Australia that has been certified as sustainable by the MSC and the first Blackmores product launched as part of the Sustainable Fish Oils Partnership.

Marcus Blackmore, Blackmores' Chairman said: 'Our partnership with WWF and commitment to the MSC are hugely significant for Blackmores. We agree that businesses in the seafood economy have an inherent responsibility and an essential role to play in ensuring fish stocks are managed sustainably. Blackmores being a signatory to the policies and principles of WWF's Sustainable Seafood Charter on top of our own Sustainable Fish Oil Sourcing Policy represents our commitment to fulfilling the vision of healthy oceans, healthy communities and sustainable business practices."

'As part of Blackmores' commitment to sustainability we have removed 96% of the tuna oil from our Australia / NZ products over the last 2 years whilst delivering the same high quality health products. The transition for the final 4% should be complete by December 2013. Tuna oil is sought after for its high levels of the omega 3 oil DHA, which may help brain and heart health. Some species of tuna are fished sustainably but others are not, and in the absence of good traceability data the most responsible move for us was to remove Tuna while retaining a quality product equally high in DHA.

This is an important milestone for the Blackmores sustainability journey, as it means our products cannot contain overfished tuna stocks. We are proud to have found a way to deliver the same health benefits in a much more sustainable way."

WWF-Australia CEO Dermot O'Gorman said: 'WWF is working with Blackmores to review its fish oil products and provide advice on how they can achieve the highest possible standard of sustainability to meet its 2015 target. The successful replacement and phasing out of tuna oil use in Australia and NZ products sets an important precedent in the Fish Oils sector."