Patagonian Toothfish

Commercial fishing for Patagonian toothfish is managed by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Established in 1982 with the objective of conserving Antarctic marine life, the CCAMLR is made up of 25 Member states that participated in the original 1980 Conference on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and have legally committed to the Commission through ratification and signature. An additional 11 states have since acceded to the Commission – meaning they have formally advised of their agreement to be legally bound to the terms of the Commission. Both Member and Acceding states must generally accept the implementation of any conservation measures adopted by CCAMLR within the CCAMLR Convention Area – an area roughly encompassing the Antarctic continent between 45 and 60 degrees South.  There are; however, some exceptions – notably the Kerguelen and Crozet Islands and the Prince Edward and Marion Islands toothfish fisheries that are managed separately under the jurisdiction of their parent countries, but which take CCAMLR management practices into account. The Macquarie Island toothfish fishery also falls outside of the CCAMLR Convention Area but is still managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority in accordance to the conversation measures of the CCAMLR. Some toothfish fisheries in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay fall outside of the CCAMLR Convention Area and are subsequently managed by the relevant coastal state.

For fisheries operating in the CCAMLR Convention Area, the primary fishing methods allowed are longlines and trawling. Among management measures outlined by CCAMLR for Patagonian toothfish include:

• Stock assessments and catch limits;
• Observer requirements (vessels in the Convention Area are required to carry one international observer with some vessels carrying an additional national observer. Some vessels carry two observers at all times (Heard, McDonald, and Macquarie Island fisheries));
• Gear restrictions (for both longline and trawl gear);
• Area closures – vulnerable ecosystems and Marine Protected Areas that are off-limits to fishing;
• Vessel limits and automated satellite-linked vessel monitoring systems (VMS); and,
• Data reporting requirements.

Of particular note are management measures to reduce bycatch of seabirds. These include:

• Restrictions limiting when longline hooks can be set during daylight hours throughout certain times of the year;
• Vessels must have a bird-scaring line trailing behind the boat to keep birds away;
• Seasonal closures that align with when birds are raising their chicks;
• Gear restrictions – all longlines must be weighted to allow the bait to sink, preventing birds from hooking themselves; and,
• Restrictions preventing ofal from being released overboard when lines are being hauled in.
• Additional bycatch restrictions include bycatch limits and move-on rules.

CCAMLR has also adopted a Catch Documentation Scheme which applies to all toothfish harvested and traded by both CCAMLR and non-CCAMLR states verifying that all Patagonian toothfish imports were caught legally. The Catch Documentation Scheme applies to all Patagonian toothfish fishing, regardless if it was caught in the Convention Area or not. The US has specific import regulations in place to verify that toothfish imports were caught legally. To import toothfish into the US, all vessels must report VMS data to CCAMLR on a port-to-port basis. Importers must also have a valid dealer permit that has been issued by NOAA, and must obtain a pre-approval certificate for each shipment of toothfish imported into the US. Additionally, the US prohibits the import of toothfish caught in certain high seas areas outside the CCAMLR Convention Area.