Fishing in the Southern Ocean
Australia’s Macquarie Island Toothfish Fishery has been certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in an independent assessment against rigorous standards, completing a remarkable feat for Australia’s sub-Antarctic fisheries.
All target species in Australia’s sub-Antarctic fisheries have now received MSC certification as sustainable and well-managed fisheries after the certification of Mackerel Icefish in 2006 and Patagonian Toothfish in March this year in the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery.
The MSC assessments show that fish stocks are healthy, that fishing practices have minimal impact on the marine ecosystem and that overall the fishery is well-managed.
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority is responsible for the management of Australia’s Antarctic fisheries and works closely with the fishing industry to develop management arrangements.
The authority’s CEO Dr James Findlay congratulated the industry members on their achievement.
“This is a significant accomplishment as the MSC process is a rigorous one and the operators involved have put significant work into achieving accreditation,” Dr Findlay said.
“The certification also recognises the best practice management arrangements the authority and industry have in place in these fisheries.”
Management of Australia’s sub-Antarctic fisheries involves a close collaboration with industry, environmental groups and other government agencies, particularly the Australian Antarctic Division and CSIRO.
The Macquarie Island environment is unique and Australian management of fishing in this area is world-leading. Each vessel fishing off Macquarie Island carries two scientific observers to collect data and ensure fishing operations do not damage the environment.
MSC Australia and New Zealand Manager Patrick Caleo said that the two companies operating within the fishery, Austral Fisheries and Australian Longline, should be commended for their proactive approach in seeking independent, third-party certification of their sustainability.
“Increasingly here and overseas, the public are looking for assurances that the seafood they are sourcing is sustainable, and both companies have shown courage in opening up their practices to such a transparent, independent and rigorous assessment,” Mr Caleo said.
Austral Fisheries CEO David Carter is pleased with the recent certification.
“Both Austral Fisheries and Australian Longline are committed to legal, sustainable and productive fisheries. We’ve come a long way from the days of battling against illegal fishing to save stocks,” Mr Carter said.
“We’ve also introduced new methods of fishing to protect seabirds, marine mammals, and the sensitive environment we fish in.”
CEO of WWF-Australia Dermot O’Gorman also welcomed the certification and commended the fishery’s proactive environmental measures.
“Sustainable and responsible management of fisheries is an essential step in safeguarding the stunning marine life and ecosystems that surround our country,” said Mr O’Gorman.
“Through the management regime adopted by the fishery, we can ensure that this ecosystem along with the unique species it supports can be maintained for generations to come,” he said.
Macquarie Island is located approximately 1500 kilometres south east of Hobart. The fishery has a total allowable catch for toothfish of 455 tonnes in the current season. It is a smaller fishery than the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Fishery where the total allowable catch is 2730 tonnes. The management arrangements in both fisheries are compatible and measures are in place to ensure the sustainable management of target and bycatch species, and to avoid interactions with seabirds and marine mammals.
The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has given both fisheries the highest accreditation under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
All product from these fisheries can now be marketed using the MSC ‘blue tick’ logo.