Last Updated: 1 May 2012
Number of fisheries: 1
Species
Toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides)
MSC assessment status
Following a 30-day period of comment on the Draft Report for the Macquarie Island Toothfish fishery, the Conformity Assessment Body, Scientific Certification Systems Inc, has met to consider the report of the assessment team, the report of the Peer Review panel and all stakeholder comments. The Determination reached by the Conformity Assessment Body is that the Macquarie Island Toothfish fishery should be certified in accordance with the MSC Standard. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A DETERMINATION, NOT A FINAL CERTIFICATION RESULT. THIS FISHERY IS THEREFORE NOT YET CERTIFIED, NOR IS IT ABLE TO USE THE MSC ECOLABEL ON ANY PRODUCTS.
There is now a 15 working day period during which a party may lodge a notice of objection to the determinations reached. For further information on the objections process, including the grounds upon which an objection can be made, please email objections@msc.org or write to the MSC London Office (Please follow this link for the MSC London Office address).
Any intent to file an objection should first be addressed to the Independent Adjudicator care of the MSC's Chief Executive, Mr Rupert Howes at the email address objections@msc.org, by 5pm GMT, 23 May 2012.
Please refer to the assessment downloads for further information.
Fishery location
The vicinity of the Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, Australian EEZ. FAO statistical area 81.
Fishing method
Demersal Trawl and Demersal Longline
Fishery management
The fishery is managed by measures compatible with the Commission on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living resources (CCALMR). Main responsibility for management of the fishery lies with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) who also receive advice and input from the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD)and the Commonwealth Scientific, Industry and Research Organisation (CSIRO).
Commercial market
International: USA, Japan, China
Assessment timeline
The assessment process is expected to take 12 months and is scheduled for completion around May 2012. Please see the download section for a detailed assessment timeline.
The target eligibility date for this fishery is around May 2012.
The MSC ecolabel can only be applied to product from certified fisheries. The MSC program does allow, in certain circumstances and within strict traceability requirements, the MSC ecolabel to be applied following certification to product caught before the actual date of certification. The target eligibility date therefore represents the date from which products may become eligible to carry the MSC ecolabel, however they cannot be sold until and if the fishery is certified. The actual eligibility date will be determined if the fishery is certified to the MSC standard.
To find out more about when fish from this fishery may be sold with the MSC ecolabel, please follow this link (http://www.msc.org/get-certified/supply-chain/eligibility-dates).
Tonnage of the fishery
