The fishery for Patagonian Toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) around the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)* has been recommended for certification by the Marine Stewardship Council. “Following a 30-day period of comment on the Draft Report for the Falkland Island toothfish fishery, the Conformity Assessment Body, Intertek Moody Marine, has met to consider the report of the assessment team, the report of the Peer Review panel and all stakeholder comments. The …
23rd December 2013: New COLTO Mission Statement
In recent years COLTO has seen a shift in focus, from removing IUU fishing for toothfish from sovereign waters to promoting the remarkable story that has seen many of our fisheries now being independently certified as sustainble. At this year’s AGM it was decided to revise our mission statement to: – promote sustainable toothfish fishing and fisheries; – facilitate its …
11th November 2013: Efforts to support and streamline trade, help seafood industry and consumers
When making a purchase at the seafood counter or in a restaurant, consumers have many seafood options. How can you feel confident that you’re making a smart, sustainable choice? You might be familiar with the work NOAA Fisheries does to sustainably manage U.S. fisheries. For National Seafood Month, let’s turn our attention to how NOAA Fisheries supports the seafood trade. …
27th October 2013: All South Georgia licensed vessels must comply with the Torremolinos Protocol
As part of an initiative to ensure all licensed fishing vessels are of a good standard, the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, GSGSSI, are undertaking inspections of all vessels to check their compliance with the Torremolinos Protocol on Fishing Vessel Safety, reports the latest edition of the South Georgia Newsletter. The Torremolinos International Convention for the Safety …
24th October 2013: COLTO announces toothfish tag lottery winners
Mr Martin Exel the Chairman of COLTO congratulates Mr TeaBin Jung of SunWoo fisheries, representing the Korean vessel, Kostar, the first winner of the COLTO-sponsored CCAMLR tag-return lottery. The tag number was drawn at random from all reports of recaptured toothfish in CCAMLR exploratory fisheries in 2012/13. The lottery had cash prizes for crew that had returned the three randomly …
24th October 2013: SARPC create Southern Seas Companies Foundation
The French toothfish fishing companies, grouped into a S.A.R.P.C [1] syndicate who manages this activity from Reunion Island, created the Southern Seas Companies foundation (Fondation d’entreprises des mers australes), which was just been recognized on 23rd August 2013 by the decree number 1546, published in the French Official Journal on 5th October 2013. For the past years, the fishing companies have financially participated …
22nd October 2013: Antarctic scientists address toothfish and icefish stocks and catch limits in Australia
With the attendance of delegations from the twenty five members from the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the annual gathering of international Antarctic scientists and policy makers took off on Monday in Australia. Over 200 marine scientists, natural resource managers, marine policy makers and diplomats will make crucial decisions about the conservation and management of …
18th October 2013: Toothfish licensing provides 70% of South Georgia revenue, but patrolling absorbs 80% of the amount
In a new initiative the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) has published their first Annual Report. The report, which is designed to keep people informed about Government activities on and off the island, was published on this website on September 2nd and has been distributed to stakeholders, according to the latest South Georgia Newsletter edition. The …
14 October 2013: COLTO welcomes Chilean toothfish industry association
New association aims to ensure Patagonian toothfish sustainability In Punta Arenas the presentation of the Association of Operators of Magellan Sea Bass (Aobac), an organization created to protect and ensure responsible fishing of Patagonian toothfish or Chilean sea bass (Dissostichus eleginoides) in waters of that region, took place. The members of the new association would like this resource to last …
4th September 2013: French Toothfish fishery acheives MSC certification
The French Patagonian toothfish fishery around the Kerguelen Islands has been recognised by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as a sustainable and well managed fishery. The fishery has a total allowable catch of 5,100t per annum. A press release from the French ship owners from SARPC (Reunion Freezer Longline Syndicate) describes in further detail this great achievement. This certification brings …
5 August 2013: US FDA recognises all toothfish as Chilean Seabass
COLTO thanks the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for updating their USA “Seafood List” which contains approved market names for all species of fish, to ensure both species of toothfish can legally be sold as “Chilean Seabass” in the United States. In April 2013, the US based environmental organization Oceana published a report “Oceana Study Reveals Seafood Fraud Nationwide”. …
11th June 2013: Top species – Chilean Sea Bass
The decision by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program to upgrade the status of some Chilean sea bass (Dissostichus eleginoides) fisheries, and Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) from avoid to best choice or good alternative has buoyed the spirits of those who have long dealt with this species, and see opportunities for expanding sales of the fish, also known as …
22nd May 2013: New paper on COLTOs fight against illegal fishing
Henrik Osterblom and Carl Folke have released their findings on The Emergence of Global Adaptive Governance for Stewardship of Regional Marine Resources. ABSTRACT. Overfishing has historically caused widespread stock collapses in the Southern Ocean. Until recently, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing threatened to result in the collapse of some of the few remaining valuable fish in the region and vulnerable …
17th May 2013: COLTO Chair radio interview
Chair of the Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators, Martin Exel, discusses the plight of the Patagonian toothfish and how this extraordinary fish’s luck has changed.
13th May 2013: WWF-SA recognises minister’s visionary leadership
At a special ceremony in Cape Town, WWF South Africa (WWF-SA) presented Water and Environmental Affairs Minister, Edna Molewa with a “Gift to the Earth” award, which the minister received on behalf of the South African government, following the recent formal gazetting of the declaration of the Prince Edward Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA) – South Africa’s first offshore MPA. …
5th May 2013: Ocean pursuit leaves toothfish pirates with nowhere to run
An Australian-backed illegal fishing watchdog in Asia is on the heels of some of the last toothfish pirates, as a long-plundered fishery moves to a sustainable catch – and to local meal tables. A fishing vessel believed to be loaded with millions of dollars worth of Southern Ocean toothfish is being tracked through Malaysia and Indonesia, where it was stopped …
26th April 2013: Thunder Struck!
AFMA Media Release Attempts by an illegal foreign fishing vessel, the ‘Thunder’, to offload millions of dollars’ worth of illegal catch in south-east Asia, have been thwarted by a strike force team made up of Australian, Malaysian and Indonesian authorities. This boat has been using the alphabet technique – changing its name and flag – to deceive authorities and avoid …
21st April 2013: Toothfish numbers declared sustainable
ABC TV- 7pm news report Tasmania’s toothfish fishery has been declared sustainable by two influential bodies following adjustments in fishing methods. Just 15 years ago the fishery was on the verge of being decimated by poachers in the Southern Ocean. In an unusual partnership, environmentalists and the industry campaigned together to encourage consumer boycotts as well as increased surveillance at …
18th April 2013: COLTO Member announces support for Ross Sea MPA
COLTO Member, Sanford Ltd, have announced their support for a Marine Protected Area in the Ross Sea via a press release this week: Sanford to back NZ-USA Ross Sea protection if tougher rules put on fishing vessels. Sanford are a New Zealand fishing company that participates in the Ross Sea Fishery for Antarctic Toothfish, which is managed under strict environmental …
16th April 2013: The Freshest Fish from Unpolluted Oceans
FIS.com have produced an article on COLTO Member, San Arawa – detailing their Argentinian operation: Argentine fishing company San Arawa performs its fishing operations in the Southwestern Atlantic, mostly in water masses of the Malvinas Currents of under their strong influence. This is the only region in the Southern Hemisphere where certain specific environmental and oceanographic conditions occur, in the southwest of …
11th April 2013: South Africa makes conservation history by declaring Prince Edwards Islands a marine protected area
WWF-South Africa is elated over Minister Edna Molewa’s recent formal announcement of the declaration of the Prince Edward Islands as a marine protected area (MPA) – Africa`s first offshore MPA. Dr Morné du Plessis, WWF-SA’s Chief Executive says, “This is a historic day for marine conservation in South Africa. This declaration demonstrates South Africa’s new commitment to protecting the Prince …
10th April 2013: Falkland Islands’ toothfish fishery awarded ‘Best Choice’ rating by Seafood Watch
The Falkland Island Toothfish fishery is one of the three toothfish fisheries around the world awarded a category of “Best Choice” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program. Seafood Watch is the most well-known and trusted source in North America for consumers and businesses seeking information about environmentally responsible seafood choices. “Assessment of the suite of toothfish fisheries took …
9th April 2013: Australian Government welcomes news for ‘Best Choice’ Toothfish
Australian toothfish – the sustainable choice The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has welcomed news that Australian-caught Patagonian toothfish has been labeled as ‘best choice’ by Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program. The Seafood Watch program advises global consumers on seafood sustainability using independent peer-reviewed science and is highly regarded worldwide. Australia has two fisheries for Patagonian toothfish (also known …
9th April 2013: Monterey Bay Aquarium reviews toothfish ratings. Positive results.
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. The following media releases …
22nd March 2013: DNA results confirm integrity of MSC Chain of Custody
Consumers and seafood buyers in key markets across the world can be confident that products bearing the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) ecolabel are correctly labelled, according to the latest results of the MSC’s DNA testing program, published today. In the most extensive testing of MSC labelled products carried out to date, 381 samples taken from retail packed products, fresh fish counters, …
21 March 2013: Argentine Toothfish fishery enters MSC assessment
The Argentine Patagonian toothfish fishery operating in Argentine Federal Continental Shelf waters has entered into full assessment for Marine Stewardship Council certification. The client group for the assessment is comprised of four companies: Estremar S.A., Pesantar S.A., Argenova S.A., and San Arawa S.A. Combined the companies have seven vessels and are assigned the entire total allowable catch (TAC) for the …
11th March 2013: Toothfish farming
Under the worldwide pioneer project consisting in farming Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in captivity, researchers of La Araucana Education Corporation recently obtained the first larvae from wild broodstock. Now, it is expected that in the next six years technology can start to be transferred to the producer industry. “From now on, the work will not be as difficult as there is more information available and …
26th Feb 2013: Amendments Improve Macquarie Island Toothfish Plan
Recently, amendments were made and accepted to the Macquarie Island Toothfish Fishery Management Plan, changing the dates of the fishing year from a fixed term to a ‘period determined by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) in line with AFMA’s general legislative reforms. AFMA has changed the end of the current fishing season, to April 30, two weeks later than …
25th Feb 2013: South Georgia Toothfish Fishery commended
Foreign Office pledges more marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean. The Foreign Office said that the UK is striving to ensure that all fishing undertaken in the Southern Ocean is carefully managed and sustainable and that the current FCO focus is supporting international work to establish a network of Southern Ocean Marine Protected Areas. Foreign Office Minister for the …
21st Feb 2013: MSC responds to Ross Sea certification debate
The Marine Stewardship Council has responded to debate surrounding its certification of the Ross Sea toothfish fishery. The Chief Executive of the MSC, Rupert Howes, stated that each fishery stood or fell on the science and the evidence when it was put forward for assessment. The Ross Sea toothfish fishery had been found to meet the standards and was therefore certified, …
6th Feb 2013: Farming Chilean Sea Bass
CHILE Fattening phase of Chilean sea bass in captivity begins Since 2008, La Araucana Education Corporation is leading a global pioneer project for Chilean sea bass (Dissostichus eleginoides) in depth farming in captivity. Fundación Chile and other institutions also participate in the initiative for national aquaculture diversification. As explained by Antonio Castilla, president of La Araucana Compensation Fund, and Nelson …
22nd Jan 2013: Additional Protected Areas for South Georgia Fishery
Scientific advice and a stakeholder consultation have resulted in the Government of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) announcing the addition of extra spatial and temporal protection to the existing South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Marine Protected Area (SGSSI MPA). Additional measures will add extra protection to the SGSSI MPA, which was created in February 2012 and covers …
21st Jan 2013: Scientist heads south to study Toothfish
Dr Steve Parker, of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research flies to Scott Base on Ross Island this week to board a COLTO Member’s (Sanford) fishing vessel in the Ross Sea, to conduct a fishing survey targeting juvenile Antarctic Toothfish between 5 and 10 years old in the Ross Sea region. Dr Parker said information on how large or …
9th Jan 2013: New Toothfish Recipe
Australian chef, Paul Cooper, has provided his recipe for Carpaccio of Toothfish, which has been a recent hit at his Sydney restaurant, Bishop Sessa.
4th Jan 2013: Want to know where your toothfish is coming from?
We have provided an updated map indicating the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for toothfish for the current 2012/13 season. Most of these toothfish TACs were set by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), following internationally peer reviewed science at the 2012 CCAMLR meeting last October in Hobart. TACs set for Chile, Argentina and Macquarie Island …