Zooca®,
delivering a unique, sustainable, and stable Calanus oil
Zooca® is revolutionising marine nutrition with its Calanus finmarchicus oil, a sustainable and innovative source of omega-3s. A unique, sustainable oil, rich in omega 3 fatty acids, astaxanthin and policosanols. Harvested from the pristine waters of the Arctic, this copepod offers innovative health benefits thanks to its exceptional lipid profile and its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Zooca®,
the Calanus pioneer
The pioneering Norwegian company Zooca® has created a revolutionary bio-marine value chain based on the sustainable harvesting of the marine copepod Calanus Finmarchicus, one of the largest renewable resources in the Norwegian Sea.
Zooca® controls its entire value chain, leveraging its proprietary technology and expertise to enable sustainable harvesting and bioprocessing of Calanus finmarchicus. The company is headquartered in Tromsø, with a branch office and factory in Sortland.
Zooca® has invested in, developed and patented an environmentally-friendly technology for fishing with a patented special-purpose plankton trawl. The trawl is rather wide and shallow, equipped with a mesh adapted to sifting the water while retaining copepods.
- Patented, environmentally-friendly harvesting technology using a dedicated plankton trawl
- Voluntarily low fishing quotas to preserve biodiversity
- Energy-efficient harvesting methods (three times less energy than conventional trawling)
- Immediate freezing of raw material onboard to preserve freshness
- Solvent-free oil extraction ensuring natural and pure ingredients
The fishing season runs from approximately early May to mid-August.
In August 2021, Zooca® opened a unique processing plant in Sortland, northern Norway. The plant holds several certifications guaranteeing high-quality production.
The oil is extracted and purified using a solvent-free process.
This solvent- and additive-free treatment ensures gentle extraction of lipids and proteins (hydrolysate), and guarantees natural, pure products.
What is Calanus finmarchicus?
This species was first described by a Norwegian bishop, J.E. Gunnerus (field biologist), in 1770. He collected the first samples of Calanus finmarchicus in 1767. The species was known by various names, but it was during the 19th century that the name Calanus finmarchicus was established.
Calanus finmarchicus is a 3 to 5 mm long copepod, a zooplankton species harvested in the pristine waters of the Arctic Ocean off the Norwegian coast.
This small pelagic zooplankton, with a lifespan of around one year, is one of the most abundant animal species on the planet and represents the largest exploitable biomass in the Northern Hemisphere.
This herbivorous species feeds on phytoplankton. Located at the base of the food chain, it is an organism that is naturally protected from pollutants.
This ingredient has only recently been introduced to the European market. Calanus oil received Novel Food authorisation in Europe in 2017.
Calanus oil is ideal for the human and animal health markets, for its rich omega-3 content in wax ester form. It is a rich ingredient with a unique lipid profile, high bioavailability and a naturally high content of astaxanthin, the UV protection of zooplankton.
A unique oil
Zooca® Calanus oil has a unique composition, unlike fish oil or krill oil.
In Calanus oil, omega-3 fatty acids are found in the form of wax esters, rather than triglycerides or phospholipids. Wax esters are absorbed more slowly than conventional omega-3s, enabling them to reach the distal intestine.
What is Calanus oil made of?
Here are some of the benefits that have been documented in preclinical trials:
- Supports metabolic health and weight management
- Improves insulin sensitivity
- Powerful anti-inflammatory action via multiple mechanisms
- Reduces non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- Enhances endurance and oxygen uptake
Zooca® is currently involved in several human clinical trials, focusing on metabolic health and a large-scale intervention study in children with ADHD.