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The Macquarie Island fishery for Patagonian Toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides in the Southern Ocean is currently under assessment by the certification body, Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

The certification body has announced that the Public Comment Draft Report for the Macquarie Island toothfish fishery is now available for comment until 16 April 2012.  According to the draft report both the trawl and longline components of the fishery have not caused mortality of seabirds (including all the ACAP-listed species that occur around the island).  The fishery follows CCAMLR (Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources) Conservation Measures in mitigating against seabird mortality, as well as retaining offal onboard and having 100% observer coverage of all fishing trips.

For more information on the Macquarie Island toothfish fishery click here.

Grey-headed Albatrosses breed on Macquarie Island
Photograph by Graham Robertson

The Australian Heard and McDonald Island toothfish fishery farther to the East in the Southern Ocean has recently received its MSC certification (click here).

Meanwhile yet another toothfish fishery in the Southern Ocean, around the French sub-Antarctic islands of Crozet and Kerguelen, is under assessment (click here), with its Public Comment Draft Report stated to be expected soon.

Selected References:

Terauds, A. Gales, R., Baker, G.B. & Alderman, A. 2006.  Foraging areas of black-browed and grey-headed albatrosses breeding on Macquarie Island in relation to marine protected areas.  Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 16: 133-146.

Trebilco, R., Gales, R., Baker, G.B., Terauds, A. & Sumner, M.D.  2008.  At sea movement of Macquarie Island giant petrels: relationships with marine protected areas and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations.  Biological Conservation 141: 2942-2958.

Woodhams, J., Stobutzki, I., Vieira, S., Curtotti, R. & Begg, G.A. (Eds) 2011.  Fishery Status Reports 2010: Status of Fish Stocks and Fisheries Managed by the Australian Government.  Canberra: Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 29 March 2010