Best Fish Guide: Patagonian Toothfish
Scientific name: Dissostichus eleginoides
Other names: Chilean sea bass (USA), Légine australe (France), Austromerluza negra (Spain)
Ranking E (Red - Worst Choice)
Best Fish Guide: Patagonian Toothfish
Ranking: E (Red - Worst Choice)
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Alternative Choice Trevally
Description: Patagonian toothfish is found throughout the Southern Ocean between latitudes 40-600 Sth including around Sub-Antarctic Islands of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans including southern South America. This is an important predator of the Southern Ocean. It is mainly caught by longline fishing but there are trawl fisheries around several Sub-Antarctic Islands in the Indian Ocean and Macquarie Island. The New Zealand EEZ catch is small and is a straddling stock with Australia’s Macquarie Island. While many Patagonian toothfish fisheries are considered overfished and heavily depleted, several Patagonian toothfish fisheries are certified as sustainable under the international Marine Stewardship Council scheme, but they still have significant ecological impacts.
Ecological concerns: The bycatch of some albatrosses and petrels each year, plus bycatch of deepwater sharks and rays. Also of concern is the high level of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing that has occurred in waters controlled by CCAMLR and adjacent seas. The fish caught in the NZ EEZ are likely to be a straddling stock which is shared with Australia, CCAMLR and SPRFMO management. The fish are likely to spawn in Australian waters around Macquarie Island. Plus there is the absence of an operational management plan.
Economic value: Exported primarily to USA, Japan, China.
ASSESSMENT OUTPUT
Biology and risk of overfishing (score D)
Status and sustainability of fish catches (score D)
Impact of fishing method and protected, threatened and endangered species captures (score D and D)
Management and management unit (score D and D)
