The Australian Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) Patagonian toothfish fishery has gained Marine Stewardship Council certification following a rigorous, independent assessment.
The fishery has demonstrated the toothfish stocks being targeted are healthy, its fishing practices have minimal impact on the marine eco-system and overall the fishery is well managed.
The fishery operates in sub-Antarctic waters within the Australian EEZ around the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Plateau. It is managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and is subject to stringent management arrangements.
The certification covers the two longline vessels and one trawl vessel operated by Austral Fisheries and Australian Longline - responsible for landing 2459mt of toothfish in 2010 - and also covers an additional quota owner Better Choice Seafoods.
As part of the certification requirements, five conditions (or required management actions) have been specified to ensure the fishery continues to achieve global best practice across all aspects of its performance.
These management actions concern the setting of precautionary harvest control rules and demonstrating management objectives have been met, ensuring the stock assessment is appropriate for the entire stock and for future catches across this stock, the collection of data on the impacts of operations on different habitats and the enhancement of consultation processes with interested stakeholders.
David Carter, CEO of Austral Fisheries, says: “The certification of the Australian HIMI Patagonian toothfish fishery to the rigorous MSC standard is a great result, and is evidence of our commitment to legal, sustainable and healthy fisheries.”
