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Ross Sea toothfish longline

MSC status

Certified as sustainable in November 2010

Summary

Species: Toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni)
Location: Ross Sea (CCAMLR Subareas 88.1 and 88.2)
Fishing methods: Longline
Vessels: 7
Number of fisheries: 1

Fishery Fact Sheet

Download the Ross Sea toothfish longline fishery fact sheet (PDF, 493kb)

More about toothfish

Toothfish grow to a maximum length of about 1.9 m, but most fish caught range from about 1 to 1.5 metres. They live up to about 35 years (the age by which 99% have died), and the oldest ever recorded was 48. The adults generally live and feed in depths of 750-1500 metres, where they gain weight before moving north onto the Pacific-Antarctic ridge to spawn during the Antarctic winter. Females mature between 12 and 20 years of age, at a length of about 130 cm, while males are younger and smaller when they mature.

More about the fishing methods

Gear use is regulated and only bottom set longlines are permitted. Much of the bait used is squid and
mackerel from directed fisheries on assessed and managed stocks in New Zealand.