Since the establishment of Lofoten Kråkebolle, one of our most important goals has been not to disturb the marine ecosystem, to the same extent we want to do our part when it comes to sustainable business operations, both below and above sea level. The Norwegian coast was once inhabited by massive kelp forests, but many of them have disappeared as a result of the large ongoing sea urchin expansion. As a result, sea urchins pose a major environmental problem for the marine ecosystem when they graze down these kelp forests, and in short leave a desert under water. According to today's estimates, there are approx. 8 billion sea urchins along the Norwegian coast. From a sustainable perspective, this can be interpreted as negative for marine life, as kelp forests are important spawning areas for fish and other small marine species. There are several studies that show that such kelp forests are revived as a result of the sea urchin's demise.

 

Lofoten is home to countless industries that are heavily dependent on fish and other marine species, all of which are linked to the presence of kelp forests. After the sea urchins have been hand-picked from the sea (we dive to the bottom of the sea using snorkels and wetsuits and we do not use vehicles / objects during the dive that have emissions with the exception of transport to and from the dive site), a meticulous process follows before having a a finished product. The organic sea urchin remains (offal and spines) from each sea urchin are returned to the sea. Then we are left with a sea urchin shell and the next step involves filling the plaster. The plaster we use is 90% recyclable, which means that it can be recycled almost indefinitely. New companies are constantly being established that focus on sustainable and environmentally friendly handling of plaster and we encourage all our customers to take advantage of such offers when it comes to recycling our product. Lofoten Kråkebolle wants to stand out as a good example of sustainable business operations, where we are constantly looking for the most short-distance and environmentally friendly solutions.

 

Supporting articles:

 

​https://www.nrk.no/tromsogfinnmark/vil-ha-krakebolledugnad-for-a-redde-tareskogen-langs-kysten-fra-trondelag-til-finnmark-1.15853837

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https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/kollaps-i-okosystemene-langs-norskekysten/73910767?fbclid=IwAR1kSdd8GX6yKBVWlY5SszIQ5sJEeEU_qO2Z9UZVTGYPSj3GYDdOHM3zG

https://framsenteret.no/arkiv/baerekraftig-kraakebolleindustri-6015021-146437/

https://forskning.no/fisk-havforskning-havforskningsinstituttet/overfiske-pa-1970-tallet-var-trolig-arsak-til-undervanns-orken-i-midt--og-nord-norge/1721309

 

https://nofima.no/en/nyhet/2020/06/developing-environmentally-friendly-sea-urchin-farming/

 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/24/sea-urchins-california-oregon-population

 

https://www.nrk.no/vestfoldogtelemark/krakebollene-odelegger-for-fiskebestanden-1.12629270

 

https://www.nordlys.no/nyheter/her-har-krakeboller-lagt-kysten-ode/s/1-79-6795074