Independent review by Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program* has confirmed a  number of toothfish fisheries are now rated  as either ‘Best Choice’ or ‘Good Alternative’, up from its previous ratings of ‘Avoid’.  Seafood Watch is the most well-known and trusted source in North America for consumers and businesses seeking information about environmentally responsible seafood choices.

Demonstrable Improvement

"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."

Collaboration Among Stakeholders

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.

Significant Improvements

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.

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.