Chilean Sea bass

The issue:

Ever eaten Chilean sea bass? If the answer is yes, then there's a 50% chance you were eating illegally harvested Chilean sea bass, also known as Patagonian or Antarctic toothfish, highly threatened and being fished into commercial extinction in the Southern Ocean. These illegal fisheries are also a threat to seabird populations, particularly the albatross.

Toothfish live between two and three kilometres deep in the Southern Ocean, grow to over two metres in length and live up to 50 years. They take 10-12 years to grow to sexual maturity, so are easily threatened by overfishing. A 50-year-old toothfish is quite a load of fishy wisdom to put on your plate and eat under false pretenses.

The South Georgia Patagonian toothfish fishery in the South Atlantic Ocean is the only one to have met the MSC standard, and was certified in 2004.

Action:

Look out for the MSC-labelled South Georgia Patagonian toothfish, otherwise avoid eating this species.

Quote:

"We applaud the South Georgia authorities for participating in the MSC's process, and for agreeing to take additional steps to improve their fishery," said Simon Cripps, Marine Director, WWF International. "At the same time, this decision sends a clear signal to fleets that are catching toothfish illegally, that distinction in the marketplace is now possible. The illegal fisheries now have a choice to clean up their act or face losing their markets.

Read more:

Sustainable seafood: Consumer guides

Where to buy MSC fish

Discover alternative sustainable seafood recipes