The Patagonian toothfish is considered one of the tastiest fish you can buy.  It has distinctive white flesh, high in oils with an even texture.  The main customers are Japan (where it is known as mero) and the USA (where it is known as Chilean sea bass).

Australia supports a commercial trawl fishery for toothfish around the waters of Heard and McDonald Island in the southern Indian ocean.  This fishery is managed by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) in accordance with the strict requirements of CCAMLR (Covention for the Conservation of Antartic Living Marine Resources). A team of local and international scientists to ensure that commercial fishing is sustainable and a total allowable catch is set assesses the fishery annually.  This is currently around 3000 tonnes per annum.

The good health of the Australian toothfish fishery has been a major reason for the activity of illegal operators in the territorial waters around Heard Island.  In 2001, illegal fishers were chased from Heard and McDonald Islands in the Indian Ocean to waters off Cape Town in South Africa and back to Australia.  The chase took over a month and resulted in the prosecution and the forfeiture of the vessel (South Tomi).

Scientific and other names
Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) are also called Australian sea bass, mero, Chilean sea bass and black hake.

What they look like
Patagonian toothfish have large pectoral fins, long upper rays and pelvic fins. Ctenoid  (comb-like) scales cover their bodies, except the snout. A distinguishing feature of the Patagonian toothfish is the dorsal surface of the head with several, narrow, elongated scaleless areas.

Little is known about the Patagonian toothfish.  It is believed they grow to a maximum length of 2.2 metres and can reach maximum age of 50.  A full-grown Patagonian toothfish can weigh up to 100 kilograms.  Their bodies are brownish-grey with distinct darker blotches.

Where they live
Patagonian toothfish are a deep-sea (demersal) species found throughout large areas of the sub-Antarctic oceans, primarily the Southern Ocean and adjacent southern parts of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.  Patagonian toothfish survive in cold-water temperatures but are not found in waters colder than 2^oC.  Distribution ranges from Southern Chile, Patagonia, Falkland Islands, Shag Rocks, South Georgia, sub-Antarctic islands and seamounts of the Indian Ocean sector, and Macquarie Island.

MacDonald Island

Patagonian toothfish are fished by long line to 2,500 metres. They appear to thrive best near land and are found largely on easterly banks. Therefore, fishing grounds are concentrated on continental shelves around the islands in the region.

Patagonian toothfish take 10 to 12 years to reach breeding age; at this stage they are about 70 cm long.  As juveniles they feed on krill but as they grow their diet changes, and they eat more cod and crocodile icefishes.  As adults, they feed mainly on squid and prawns.  Sperm whales are the Patagonian toothfish’s main predator.