SEAFOOD.COM NEWS [Seafoodnews.com] — April 9, 2013 — Toothfish was one of the most highly sited problem fisheries in the 1990's, leading many chefs and retailers to avoid selling toothfish or Chilean sea bass entirely. But like so many other sustainability problems in global fisheries, the situation with toothfish has dramatically changed. Today, the Monterey Bay Aquarium announced that they have approved over 60% of the global supply of toothfish as either "best choice", their highest rating, or "good alternative." This has come about largely through the exemplary work of COLTO- the coalition of legal toothfish operators, which represents about 80% of global production.
Three toothfish/Chilean sea bass fisheries – the Falkland Island fishery, Heard and McDonald Island fishery, Macquarie Island fishery are listed as “Best Choice.” Together they represent 18% of Global supply.
CEO of Austral Fisheries, David Carter, said today “This is another milestone in an extraordinary journey for a fishery that has gone from poachers and problems, to be recognized internationally as best practice and sustainable.” Carter went on to say “This has only been possible through the cooperation and efforts of many in conservation, management, science and responsible industry. We are immensely proud of this result.”
The Kerguelen Island fishery, South Georgia fishery, and Ross Sea fishery are listed as “Good Alternative,”, representing another 43% of global TAC.
This means that over 60% of toothfish/Chilean Sea Bass now landed rates a best choice or good alternative from Monterey Bay.
Another toothfish fishery in Argentina is currently undergoing MSC assessment, and it represents another 17.5%. It is not yet rated by Monterey Bay.
The Aquarium, which issues a widely followed seafood watch list, leaves unchanged the avoid recommendation for the Chile fishery, Prince Edward and Marion Islands fishery, and Crozet Island fishery.
The import documentation required for toothfish by the U.S. and other countries, along with heightened enforcement in the main producing areas, has resulted in a dramatic drop in IUU fishing to a level comparable to other major fisheries.
COLTO members also supported scientific research with their vessels, and in their individual countries, which allowed certification organizations such as the MSC and Monterrey Bay to reliably understand the health and sustainability of these recently exploited fish stocks.
Martin Exel, Chair of COLTO, said that “…Collaboration between industry and conservation, working with scientists and managers to address problems, has produced extraordinary results. It’s one of the most exciting outcomes in global fisheries – a model of how well fisheries management actions can work.”
A major collaborative action to eliminate illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) toothfish fishing, to devise new methods to reduce seabird bycatch, and to ensure sustainable management of toothfish, was started 15 years ago by industry, conservation groups, and national governments.
There has been a 95% decline in IUU catches of Patagonian toothfish since then. There are remnants of IUU fishing for Antarctic toothfish in high seas areas of the Indian Ocean, outside national jurisdictional controls, which are still being addressed. COLTO operators continue as prime deterrents to IUU operations in those remote regions.
In Chile the use of bird mitigation measures called ‘cachaloteras’ on longline fishing vessels reduced the bycatch of albatross to zero. In New Zealand, development of integrated weighting line virtually eliminated seabird bycatch for auto-line toothfish vessels, globally.
"Assessment of the suite of toothfish fisheries took almost a year," said Dr. Tom Pickerell, Senior Science Manager at Seafood Watch. "In order to be confident in our results, we have a rigorous process that ensures that all the relevant data are analysed and our findings peer reviewed. While some may consider a recommendation to buy toothfish somewhat controversial, we are confident in our analyses and the industry has demonstrated that it is possible to harvest this species in a responsible manner."
The positive outcomes from the Monterey Bay Aquarium confirm separate independent reviews of toothfish fisheries, including by national governments, the 25 member-nation resource conservation agency CCAMLR, and by the Marine Stewardship Council.
“Put toothfish on your table” is the message, said Martin. Toothfish are sustainable, healthy and delicious. People should eat toothfish with confidence, particularly where catch documentation and tracking schemes can prove where the toothfish on your plate has come from.
This article originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.