21 Nov 2010

Toothfish fishery recognised as sustainable

3:18 pm on 21 November 2010

An organisation which rates whether fish has been caught sustainably has been criticised for certifying the Antarctic toothfish longline fishery.

The decision by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) contradicts the opinion of the international body which manages all fishing in the waters surrounding Antarctica.

The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources considers toothfish an exploratory fishery, meaning not enough is known for it to be considered commercially sustainable.

But MSC certification is a label advertising that the seafood product was caught in a way which meets the industry's toughest best practice criteria.

Environmental group Greenpeace considers toothfish to be threatened and says it makes no sense for it to be MSC certified.

Greenpeace says this signals the beginning of the end for the species.