Southern Ocean
Australia’s sub-Antarctic
Our vessels operate in two fishing zones of Australia’s sub-Antarctic territories. These are Heard Island, south-west of Western Australia, and Macquarie Island, south-east of Tasmania.
Heard Island is home to Australia’s only active volcano, the Big Ben, which is permanently covered in snow and cloud and dominates the island’s topography. Here, Austral Fisheries is also entitled to catch Mackerel icefish as well as Patagonian toothfish and have been working in this fishery since 1996. We have been involved in the Macquarie Island toothfish fishery since 1994.
Both the toothfish and icefish from the Heard Island and Macquarie Island fisheries are certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, as well as the toothfish being rated ‘Best Choice’ by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program.
Patagonian Toothfish
The Patagonian Toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) is unique to the sub-Antarctic, and today, over 50% of the global catch of this species is certified as sustainable and well managed by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Toothfish are caught down to depths of 2500m. They have evolved to control their buoyancy through the use of lipids within their bodies rather than through a swim bladder. This gives the fish a high fat content, which is a key reason it is so highly sought after by chefs. The lack of a swim bladder also means that fishermen can tag and release these fish to better understand the status of their populations. We tag and release around 5000 toothfish each year, which contributes to the world class scientific programs that operates in this fishery.
Austral Fisheries is a proud founding member of COLTO – the Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators – whose mission is to promote sustainable toothfish fishing and fisheries, and to facilitate its Members working together and with others, including through continued provision of high quality scientific data to CCAMLR and other bodies.
Fisheries Management
Austral Fisheries is licensed by the Australian Government to fish for Patagonian Toothfish in Australia’s sub-Antarctic zones, which is regulated by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) taking into account ecosystem-based measures set by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Strict conservation measures and conditions on fishing rights are in place to ensure compliance with quotas, catch landing and verification, and limiting our impact on the environment.
We carry one Australian Government observer as well as an independent government-approved Data Collection Officer on board each of our voyages. The work conducted by these two observers includes the monitoring and biological sampling of the catch and bycatch, as well as conducting a range of research work including random stratified trawl surveys and tag and recapture studies to assist scientists to assess the status of the resource and therefore appropriate levels of catch. Any interactions between the fishing operation and other species such as seabirds and marine mammals are monitored and recorded.
Mackerel Icefish
The Mackerel Icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) is a species unique to the sub-Antarctic and was the first finfish in Australia to be certified by the MSC as a sustainable and well managed fish.
The flesh of Icefish is fine textured, white in colour and one of the worlds best kept secrets. Icefish have very high levels of Omega 3, polyunsaturated fatty acids and can be consumed whole or filleted. Icefish are generally between 24cm and 36cm in overall length.
Southern Ocean Fleet
Our Southern Ocean Fleet consists of two vessels:
CAPE ARKONA
Austral’s newest and most advanced vessel, the hybrid-electric Cape Arkona was completed and fishing by the end of 2020.
The vessel features class-leading technology and capabilities including the ability to fish via three different methods (longlining, potting and trawling), four different propulsion options and the latest in electric trawling winches and battery technology – all designed to improve its efficiency and reduce its environmental footprint.
ISLA EDEN
The Isla Eden was purchased by Austral Fisheries in 2012 and sailed its maiden voyage for the company from Norway to Mauritius in 2013. It is a 1994 Norwegian built 50m longliner that was especially built for catching toothfish.
A purely long-lining vessel, Isla Eden is a crew-favourite and has been a reliable vessel since joining Austral’s Southern Fleet. Along with Austral’s other two Southern Fleet vessels, Isla Eden is equipped with world-leading mitigation techniques for longlining to minimise seabird bycatch.