Pirates taking heavy toll of toothfish

Hobart, Australia: The future of the Patagonian and Antarctic toothfish and the highly valuable fishery concentrated in the Southern Ocean is under significant pressure from illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

According to a study released today by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, IUU fishing is severely undermining protection of these valuable species.

WWF and TRAFFIC are calling for enhanced monitoring measures and for trade sanctions to be imposed against countries continuing to undermine the conservation measures for toothfish.

The report found that between 2004 and 2007 the percentage of trade represented by IUU catch averaged 17 per cent, compared to average estimates of 10 per cent of total landings.

Toothfish are overseen by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The new study, “Continuing CCAMLR’S Fight Against IUU Fishing For Toothfish”, was presented on today’s final day of a CCAMLR meeting in Hobart, Tasmania.

“While estimates of IUU catch for recent years are much lower than when we last assessed the situation in 2001, they still represent significant IUU catch,” said Glenn Sant, TRAFFIC’s Global Marine Program Leader.

“This needs to be accounted for and reduced by CCAMLR through further intervention as this catch continues to represent a serious threat to the conservation of toothfish.”

Fetching prices of up to $35 per kilogram, toothfish has earned the nickname “white gold” among fishers. The global black market for toothfish is estimated by WWF to be worth $200 million a year.

The identities of the illegal fishers are often hidden behind flags of convenience, but states most commonly selling flags of convenience include Panama, Liberia, Belize and North Korea.

“We need to protect the toothfish, not the pirates,” said Rob Nicoll, WWF-Australia’s Antarctic & Southern Ocean Initiative Manager.

“Stricter regulation of trade would assist enforcement - the pirates wouldn't go after the toothfish if they couldn't sell their ill-gotten gains.

“These findings reinforce the need for a range of complementary measures. This is the only way consumers can be assured that the fish on their plate is obtained legally.”