Marianne Merten South Africa is battling to stop the illegal fishing of its Antarctic deep-water toothfish resources, which has cost the country a conservatively estimated $150- million in income over the past four years. And it has emerged that a 1998 Cabinet memo stipulating requirements for patrolling the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone around Marion Island in Antarctica has never been fully implemented. Only the impounding of pirate vessels in a clear demonstration of political will would end the plunder, said Marine and Coastal Management senior specialist scientist Denzil Miller, who also chairs the scientific committee of the 1982 Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The toothfish, also known as “white gold” in the fishing industry, is the most valued of the illegally caught Antarctic fish, but also affected are lanternfish, mackerel icefish, marbled rockcod and Patagonian rockcod.
Chief suspects of fishing piracy are Norway, Korea, Spain and Argentina. In 1997 it was estimated that 90% of the total toothfish catch of 100 000 tonnes valued at $500- million was illegal. The total legal catch was only 13 000 tonnes, it emerged at a January 1999 meeting of Antarctic Treaty members.
The toothfish is a prized sushi fish in Japan and has in recent years captured the United States market, where most restaurants sell it as Chilean sea bass. Over the past three years toothfish catch rates have fallen by two-thirds because of unscrupulous plundering while the price has skyrocketed from $3E000 per tonne to $10 000 per tonne. “All indications are that the stock has been so severely hammered that the potential for its long-term future has been reduced,” said Miller.
The toothfish – a predatory fish with sharp, large teeth – is a slow-growing creature that reaches reproductive age at 10 years, but can live up to 50 years. Scientists estimate the toothfish could be extinct for commercial exploitation within three to five years.
For the time being South Africa is concentrating on information gathering, monitoring and tightening up on-shore regulations pertaining to toothfish. The country has led the two-year process towards the “toothfish catch document” – a paper trail to show the fish was caught legally – adopted in May by all 23 CCAMLR members.
Local officials also insist on the correct fishing permits that require the vessel prove the toothfish was taken legally. This can only be done through a satellite monitor. It is also an offence to possess toothfish without a permit, even just for processing.
But deterrence only goes so far and individual countries have to send a clear message that illegal operators will be dealt with decisively. For example, Namibia in the early Nineties impounded several Spanish fishing trawlers illegally operating in its exclusive economic zone and effectively stopped years of plundering of their marine resources.
“The countries behind the toothfish plundering are not Mickey Mouse countries,” said Miller. “The European Union turns a blind eye to this because it does not want the vessels in their waters. What they do not realise is that they are foreclosing on their own future, their children’s future.” The initial pirate fishers were linked to Norwegian and Spanish interests, often through Argentinean and Chilean proxies. After their respective countries clamped down on loopholes, many vessels were reflagged in countries like Belize or Panama, where regulations are not as strict. Countries like Mauritius offer pirate fishers support, ranging from legal services, crew supply and industrial processing.
Recently France has achieved a measure of success curbing illegal fishing in its Antarctic region of Crozet Island, after it decided to catch vessels (more than 13 so far), fine operators for any illegal toothfish on board and bond ships, which means an owner pays stiff penalties for the vessel’s release. Miller said South Africa appears to be sending out the signal that it will not or can not act against illegal operators. Referring to a Norwegian captain imprisoned for the past 11 months at Reunion, Miller said illegal fishing operators are just people concerned with their personal security and a great dislike for prison. “You bring the ship back to Cape Town. You stop the vessel from fishing. Even worse, you put the master in jail. Word gets out.”