The sustainable management of the Toothfish in the Southern Ocean

The conservation and management of the Patagonian Toothfish became a topic of intense media scrutiny during 2003. Although this conservation issue is not new, the action taken by the Australian Government to pursue a suspected illegal fishing vessel 3900 nautical miles across the high seas, raised the profile of this issue to new heights. The Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) is the organisation responsible for the conservation and management of the Toothfish in the Southern Ocean. As a result of the recent interest in this conservation issue, the conservation and management measures taken by CCAMLR are now being viewed more closely. This paper examines recent events and scrutinises the measures currently in place to conserve and protect the Patagonian Toothfish