Patagonian Toothfish (Antarctic sea bass) The Patagonian toothfish may not be the most beautiful creature you've ever seen but it is a truly remarkable fish. Of the 20,000 known species of fish in the world, only 120 live in the Southern Ocean. Throughout the past 40 million years they have adapted to the freezing conditions by developing a special 'antifreeze' component in their body fluids. Antarctic fish are especially vulnerable to overfishing because most species take a long time to become sexually mature and are long lived.

The toothfish plays an important part in the Southern Ocean ecosystem around Antarctica. It grows slowly and to more than two metres long. It can live as long as 50 years and does not breed until it is at least 10 years old. It lives in deep waters (from 300 to 3,500 metres down) and is found on sea mounts and continental shelves around most sub-Antarctic islands. Like many deep-sea species, little is known about the Patagonian toothfish. It is known that it is part of the sperm whale's diet and scientists estimate that it comprises up to 98% of the elephant seal's fish diet.

The rapidly disappearing Patagonian toothfish is worth so much money in the marketplace that the fishing industry calls it "white gold".

Just one year of illegal fishing around Crozet Island reduced the number of Patagonian toothfish by 25%. Catch rates around Crozet Island were estimated to be more than 12 times the legal limit (CCAMLR, 1997).

By 1998 this fishery had reached the point of commercial extinction. In 1997 the total illegal catch of Patagonian toothfish was around 100,000 tonnes with a value of over AUD$760 million. It is estimated that in some areas up to 90% of the total Patagonian toothfish catch is taken by illegal and unregulated longliners.

The Patagonian toothfish fishery around Prince Edward and Marion Islands was fished to commercial extinction in just two years.

Fishing History of Patagonian Toothfish

Mid 1980s Overfishing forced dozens of Spanish, South Korean and Japanese industrial fishing vessels out of their national waters. They moved to Chilean waters where they caught fish such as Austral Hake and Golden Kingclip.

Early 1990s Overfishing caused the collapse of these fisheries. These industrial fishing fleets then targeted Patagonian toothfish.

1994 Fishing for Patagonian toothfish spread to the coast of Argentina. When the population of Patagonian toothfish in South American waters became depleted the illegal fishers moved eastwards.

1996 and 1997 Illegal fishers spread to the southern Indian Ocean.

1998/1999 Now that the fishery around Prince Edward and Marion islands has been over fished to the point of commercial extinction, industrialised fishing vessels continue to poach thousands of tonnes of Patagonian toothfish around South America, the sub-Antarctic islands belonging to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, France and in international waters.

1999 CCAMLR governments know even less about the extent of pirate fishing than last year. It is thought that the pirates are increasingly transhipping their catches to other vessels at sea. Meanwhile the price of toothfish in the markets has increased steadily since July 1998. In January 1998 it was worth $6 per kilo. In July 1999 it was $11.

2000 Driven by the economic interests of their own commercial fishing companies, CCAMLR governments again set substantial quotas for legal fisheries despite there being no new scientific information to indicate that these commercial quotas were sustainable. Estimates for pirate catches were at least 30% higher than 1999. Scientists again admitted that they knew little about the extent of pirate fishing.

More about Pirate Fishing:

Introduction - Modern-day pirates plunder ocean life
Dodging the rules: flag of convenience fishing
Governments recognise the pirate fishing problem...will they act to stop it?
Trouble ahead for pirate fishing talks!

Pirate Fishing in the Southern Ocean:
Introduction
CCAMLR - Governments are failing the toothfish and albatross
Consumers - Retailers begin to move away from toothfish and how you can help
Southern Ocean Ecosystem
Albatross - How pirate fishing is devastating Albatross populations
Southern Ocean Expedition web site, 2000

Pirate Fishing in the Atlantic Ocean:
Atlantic - Pirate fishers plunder Atlantic tuna
Pirates Plunder the Atlantic
Eradicating Pirate Fishing: a study of the current status of tuna and tuna-like fish stocks in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean, May 2000 (pdf file, 91KB)
Atlantic Expedition web site, 2000