Based on the latest scientific assessments, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) Commission has increased the total allowable catch (TAC) for Patagonian toothfish and reduced slightly the TAC for mackerel icefish for the season starting on 1 December.
The TAC for the Heard and McDonald Islands (HIMI) fishery season for Patagonian toothfish will be 3,525 metric tons (MT), which is an increase of 120 MT, while the TAC for mackerel icefish will be 526 MT, representing a reduction of 35 MT.
AFMA CEO, Dr James Findlay, said the latest Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resources Economics and Sciences (ABARES) fishery status reports showed that fish stocks around the Heard and McDonald Islands were in good shape.
“The increase in the toothfish TAC and decrease in the icefish TAC again demonstrates that adjustments are made to help ensure the fishery continues to be sustainably fished, which in turn can give confidence to seafood consumers worldwide.”
Patagonian toothfish are found at depths of 500-2,500 meters in sub-Antarctic waters. The species can grow up to two meters in length and weigh up to 200kg.
Also found in sub-Antarctic waters, mackerel icefish are much smaller than toothfish, weighing a maximum of 2 kg and growing up to 66cm in length.
