Map of the SIOFA Area.

Spanish flagged vessels acussed of jeopardizing toothfish stocks

Concerns for Patagonian toothfish stocks in the Southern Indian Ocean Fishing Agreement (SIOFA) area continue to mount as Spanish flagged vessels fish in under-regulated areas without catch limits, bycatch limits or agreed seabird mitigation measures, despite clear scientific evidence of the risks, warns one of Australia’s largest integrated commercial fishing companies.

Austral Fisheries expains that since 2018 there has been a significant increase in toothfish fishing activity in the SIOFA area, with large catches taken by two Spanish flagged vessels on Del Cano Rise and William’s Ridge. These locations share borders with the established, well managed Prince Edward and Marion Islands and Crozet Islands fisheries, and the Heard Island and McDonald Islands fishery respectively.

These toothfish fisheries have achieved various internationally recognised, independent sustainability certifications and credentials following a well-documented history fighting against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) toothfish fishing.

According to the Australian fishing company, as recently as the 10th June 2019, the Spanish flagged vessel ISBA Quinto was fishing without restraint on William’s Ridge, as it has done in the past two years.

"This under-regulated, limitless fishing continues to occur despite the SIOFA Scientific Committee’s (SC) agreement in March 2019 that toothfish catches on the SIOFA part of William’s Ridge are likely to result in a high risk of localised depletion in this area, as well as exceeding the total fishing mortality used by CCAMLR for this population. Austral Fisheries believe this undermines Spain’s obligations as a CCAMLR member and responsible fishing nation," the company denounced.

In this regard, Austral commends fellow Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators (COLTO) member, Georgia Seafoods, for ceasing their toothfish fishing with their Spanish flagged vessel Tronio in the SIOFA area since the SIOFA SC’s findings were released in March.

Austral Fisheries says that it is working with the Australian government and others to garner an international response to this critical issue, where it appears that Spain is knowingly allowing fishing which undermines the decades of effort by French and Australian governments, CCAMLR and the wider fishing industry.

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