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Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (October 2008) Patagonian Toothfish Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Nototheniidae Genus: Dissostichus Species: Binomial name Dissostichus eleginoides Smitt, 1898 The Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) is a fish found in the cold, temperate waters (between depths of 45 to 3850 m) of the Southern Atlantic, Southern Pacific, Indian, and Southern Oceans on seamounts and continental shelves around most sub-Antarctic islands. A commercial fishery exists for Patagonian toothfish; the meat is sold under the trade names “Chilean sea bass” in the USA; “merluza negra” in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay where it is relatively cheap; and “mero” in Japan where it is sold at high prices. A close relative, the Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni), is found farther south around the edges of the Antarctic shelf; it also lives in the Ross Sea. The average weight of a commercially caught Patagonian toothfish is 9 to 10 kilograms (20 to 22 pounds) with large adults occasionally exceeding 200 kilograms (441 pounds). They are thought to live up to fifty years and to reach a length up to 2.3 metres (7.5 feet). Patagonian toothfish feed largely on squid, fish, and prawns and, in turn, constitute a large part of the diets of sperm whales, Southern Elephant Seals, and colossal squid. Contents [hide] 1 Legal fishing 2 Illegal fishing 3 Australian Legal fishing The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues compliance numbers to vessels that legally catch Patagonian toothfish. [1] The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) supervises legal Patagonian toothfish harvesting. [2] Illegal fishing Commercial fishing Fin fish Anchovy Catfish Cod Cod (Atlantic) Eel Halibut Herring Mackerel Pollock Sillaginids Salmon Sardine Sole Sturgeon Sturgeon (beluga) Sturgeon (white) Tilapia Toothfish Tuna Turbot Whitebait more... Fishing industry Fisheries See also: List of fishing topics This box: view • talk • edit According to Seafood Watch, the Chilean sea bass is currently on the list of fish that American consumers who are sustainability-minded should avoid. The illegal capture and sale of the Patagonian toothfish has led to several arrests and fines. Illegal overfishing threatens the species in some areas as the fish is slow-growing and reaches maturity between ten and twelve years of age. The longline fishery has also been criticized for drowning thousands of seabirds such as albatrosses. In the last few years, the management of several fisheries has improved with increased patrolling for illegal vessels and stringent regulations for legal operators. Although overfishing and illegal 'pirate fishing' are still problems | ||||
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