Welcome to our website! Here, you’ll discover more about our commitment to legal and sustainable Toothfish fisheries, and the work being done to protect and manage Toothfish (Chilean seabass) stocks, along with the rich history of our unique fisheries across the southern oceans and the Antarctic region.
Toothfish is highly valued for its rich, buttery flavour and tender, flaky texture, making it popular in upscale restaurants worldwide. Its versatility and mild taste appeal to chefs and diners alike. In the early 2000s, its popularity had driven up demand, and illegal catches were double that of the legal ones. This illegal activity cast a shadow on legally sourced Toothfish from our well-regulated fisheries where stocks are managed with strong conservation measures.
Founded in 2003, the Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators, Inc. (COLTO) unites legal industry members in a mission to combat Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) fishing of Toothfish. Today, thanks to collaborative efforts by the industry, CCAMLR, Flag and Port States, conservation NGOs, IUU fishing is virtually non-existent in the Southern Ocean and Antarctic areas.
Since its inception COLTO has also worked to reduce seabird bycatch to near-zero levels in Toothfish fisheries, and have worked in collaboration with scientists on continued improvements in fish tagging practices, advances in gear technology and sustainable fishing practices.
As of 2024, around 50% of the global Toothfish catch is independently certified by the Marine Stewardship Council as sustainable and well-managed, with further endorsements by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program. An additional 6% is sustainably managed under CCAMLR’s precautionary approach, another 21% fall under two Fisheries Improvement Programs, and 1% falls under management of RFMOs, setting a strong foundation for the ongoing sustainability of Toothfish fisheries.
These advancements ensure that you, the consumer, are supporting only legally caught, sustainably managed Toothfish. For more information or to share suggestions on enhancing our efforts, please reach out to us at [email protected].
Brodie Plum
Chairperson
Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators, Inc.
11 November 2024