Retailer takes krill products off shelves to help penguins

HOLLAND & BARRETT, the health retailer, has bowed to pressure and removed krill products from its shelves after being warned they were stealing food from penguins.

Greenpeace has said the krill fishing industry, which involves catching the tiny shrimp-like creatures for products such as Omega-3 tablets, threatens wildlife in Antarctica and is engaged in a “tug-of-war” for food with penguins, seals and whales in the fragile region.

It accused Holland & Barrett of stocking products which put at risk species that depend on krill. Supporters have sent 40,000 emails to Peter Aldis, the company’s chief executive, and activists have labelled krill products in shops with stickers about their impact on the environment.

Polling of 2,024 adults by Yougov for Greenpeace has revealed almost twothirds of people think retailers should not be stocking krill products fished in areas being considered for protection in the Antarctic Ocean.

Almost nine in 10 support the creation of an Antarctic Ocean sanctuary to protect the pristine waters of the Weddell Sea, which would become the biggest marine reserve.

A recent report from Greenpeace warned that tracking of ships targeting krill in Antarctica had revealed vessels close to wildlife feeding grounds and suggested some were anchoring near existing protected areas.

Mr Aldis said that all the krill-based supplements sold by Holland & Barrett were certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, but that the company shared the concerns raised in the Greenpeace report.