Fishery Improvement Project
Last Update: April 2024
Species: Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides)
FIP Stage according to CASS Progress Table: 4, FIP is delivering improvement in policies or practices.
FIP Rating according to MSC benchmarking tool: Initial (Y0, May 2021, 0.54).
FIP Rating according to SFP rating system: A (Exceptional Progress, March 2023)
FIP profile at FisheryProgress.org: Argentina Patagonian toothfish – bottom trawl (February 2021)
Fishery Location: FAO Area 41. Argentine Exclusive Economic Zone.
FIP Coordination: If you would like more information about the FIP or if you wish to support it, please contact Angel Diaz Lugo (CeDePesca).
FIP Participants:
- ESTREMAR
- NUEVA PESCANOVA
- PESANTAR
- SAN ARAWA
- CeDePesca (technical support)
Other references:
- INIDEP – Merluza negra (in Spanish)
Date Publicly Announced: July 2020 (Prospective FIP announced)
Date Active FIP Launched: April 2021 (Comprehensive FIP Action Plan adopted)
Supporting Documents:
Initial Improvement Recommendations:
- [COMPLETE] Complete an MSC Pre-Assessment of the fishery to determine its current level of compliance against the standard and to identify sustainability issues.
- [COMPLETE] Adopt a FIP Action Plan to achieve a certifiable status for the fishery.
Current Improvement Recommendations:
- Promote the stock review and harvest strategy (improvement in indicators 1.2.1 and 3.2.2).
- Define explicit harvest control rules. (Improvement on indicator 1.2.2).
- Promote a review of the target biological reference point (PBRO). (improvement on indicator 1.2.4)
- Obtain information on the fishery ecosystem impacts (improvement in P2 indicators).
- Conduct risk analysis on those ecosystem impacts that cannot be quantitatively assessed (improvement in P2 indicators).
- Collect information on the sanctions system (improvement of indicator 3.2.3).
- Promote assessments of the fishery management system (improvement of indicator 3.2.4).
Background:
Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) is a long-lived species (> 50 years), which inhabits waters associated to the southern shelves and slopes of South America and around the sub-Antarctic islands of the Southern Ocean. There is no evidence of large-scale geographic migrations, and studies using genetics, biochemistry, parasite fauna and tagging indicate a high degree of isolation between populations in the Indian Ocean, South Georgia and the Patagonian Shelf.
In Argentina, the fishery is managed by the Fisheries Federal Council (Consejo Federal Pesquero, CFP) and the National Secretariat for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca de la Nación, SAGyP), while research and stock assessment are undertaken by the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero, INIDEP). The Patagonian toothfish fishery is subject to total allowable catches issued by the CFP, attending advice by INIDEP.
The companies ESTREMAR, NUEVA PESCANOVA, PESANTAR and SAN ARAWA have teamed up with CeDePesca to implement this FIP with the ultimate goal of achieving a certifiable status for the Argentina Patagonian toothfish bottom-trawl fishery in a timeframe of two years.
Progress Update
2020
June – July 2020
On June 10th, Estremar, Nueva Pescanova, Pesantar, San Arawa, and CeDePesca signed a Framework Agreement and Specific Agreement N1 to implement Stages 0 – 2 of a Fishery Improvement Project for the Argentine Patagonian toothfish industrial bottom trawl fishery. The pre-assessment will be conducted by CeDePesca, and is expected to be available in late October, together with a draft Action Plan to be discussed with FIP partners.
August – December 2020
During this period, CeDePesca has been working to complete the pre-assessment of the fishery against the MSC standard. To better assess the performance indicators in P2, virtual interviews were held with fishers in September, and information regarding bycatch in the trawling fishery was sought from INIDEP. In response, the entity prepared a technical report describing bycatch in the freezing trawling fishery for the period 2015-2019. The document was delivered to CeDePesca on December 9th. The new expected completion date for the MSC PA is January 2020.
2021
January – March 2021
CeDePesca delivered the draft version of the MSC pre-assessment on March 8th, and a proposal for a FIP Action Plan was presented on March 25th. After a short consultation period, the Action Plan was adopted on April 8th, through Specific Agreement N2.
April – June 2021
On May 11th, a virtual meeting was held with INIDEP researchers to formally present the results of the MSC pre-assessment and the FIP Action Plan. During this meeting, comments to the MSC PA were received, which were incorporated to the document. The importance of defining the identity of Patagonian toothfish stock was discussed.
On June 2th, a Zoom meeting was held with captains and crew members to brief them on the recording of interactions with protected species and habitats in Patagonian toothfish fishery.
On June 16 th, INIDEP presented Technical Report No. 23/2021, on the “Analysis of the potential impact caused by the establishment of the Namuncurá-Banco Burdwood I, II (NBBI and NBBII) and Yaganes marine protected areas in the Argentine fishery for Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) «
On June 22 th, the Advisory Commission for the Monitoring of the Fishing Activity of the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) species meets. Published in ACTA N ° 01/2021, INIDEP highlights the willingness to work on the definition of the Patagonian toothfish stock, on the aspects related to the evaluation of cash, advancing in the definition of the management unit under the concept of metapopulation, the Explicit definition of catch control tools and the definition of new Target Biological Reference Point (PBRO)
July – September 2021
On July 2nd, a virtual meeting was held with Aves Argentinas, to present the FIP and to find out if they are currently collecting information on birds interactions in this fishery, which was answered in the negative.
On July 15 th, the Federal Fisheries Council received INIDEP’s proposal for a specific protocol for the sampling of benthic species present in fishing sets targeting Patagonian toothfish, to be carried out by observers/technicians during toothfish fishing trips, in the framework of Patagonian toothfish FIP.
On July 29 th, CeDePesca held a virtual meeting with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Tierra de Fuego Province. During this meeting, the Patagonian toothfish FIP and CeDePesca’s model for a private onboard data collection system were presented to the authorities, in order to promote joint work. The proposal was well received.
On August 4 th, CeDePesca sent a formal note to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Province of Tierra del Fuego attaching a draft Cooperation Agreement, the presentation on the results of the Patagonian toothfish, MSC, pre-assessment, the presentation of the propose Private On-Board Observer Program and On-Board Information Record Formats
On August 10 th, CeDePesca received a sanctions report for the Patagonian toothfish fishery prepared by the National Directorate of Fisheries Control and Supervision, in order to demonstrate the sanctions imposed for breaches of the Law, This repor will help better understand the performance of the fishery in relation to PI3.2.3 of the MSC standard.
On August 16 th, the full profile of the Patagonian toothfish Argentina FIP was published on the FisheryProgress platform
On September 10 th, Seafoodsource published an article on the start of the Patagonian toothfish FIP.
On September 14 th, the Second Virtual Workshop with crew members assigned to FIP parthener´s vessels took place. The workshop, led by CeDePesca´s technicians, included topics related to the interactions with Habitats and ETP species as well as an explanation on how to use data collection logbooks. The workshop was successfully carried out within the framework of the Patagonian toothfish improvement project.
On September 18th, the commercial fishing vessel Centurión del Atlántico owned by FIP partner Estremar, set sail carrying onboard INIDEP technical staff to carry out the evaluation campaign of the juvenile fraction of the Patagonian toothfish stock. The main objective is estimating an index of abundance of the juvenile fraction (individuals less than 82 cm TL) in the main area of concentration of the species.
October – December 2021
On October 29th, the Third Virtual Workshop on ETP species and habitat interactions was successfully held with eight crew members from FIP partner vessels.
On November 4th, the Cooperation Agreement between CeDePesca and the Province of Tierra del Fuego was signed. The agreement seeks to promote the participation of the Provincial On-Board Observer Program of the Secretariat of Fisheries Aquaculture into the FIP. The signing of the agreement was covered by local news media, including VíaPaís.
On November 17th, Mar y Pesca NP publishes an article: Progress is being made for the certification of toothfish.
On November 29th, CeDePesca held a virtual meeting with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Province of Tierra del Fuego to discuss the next steps for the implementation of activities within the framework of the Cooperation Agreement signed with the Province on November 4th.
2022
January – March 2022
On February 7th, an Addendum to the Specific Agreement #2 was signed between CeDePesca and the FIP Partners. The addendum is related to the organization and financing of a scientific workshop (peer review) to be held in April 2022, with the participation of INIDEP researchers and with an external evaluator. The peer review will seek to validate or modify the current biological reference points.
On February 25th, CeDePesca drafted the first preliminary report of quality control of the data collected on board by crew members of the fishing vessels. Echizen Maru and Centurión del Atlántico, property of the FIP partners (PESENTAR and ESTREMAR). The data is related to the interaction of the fishery with non-target species, habitats, and ETP species, and it was collected between September 2021 and January 2022.
Regarding social aspects, on February 25th, CeDePesca complied with the requirements of the implementation of the new FisheryProgress policy by completing a Self-Evaluation of Risk Criteria. The results of the self-evaluation, conducted considering data publicly available to the CeDePesca team and short interviews with relevant stakeholders, indicate that the fishery would not be operating in a high risk context.
On March 23rd, CeDePesca organized a fourth virtual training workshop for fishing crew members of the the Echizen Maru fishing vessel, owned by FIP partner PESENTAR. The workshop looked at best practices for collecting data onboard.
April – September 2022
On April 8th, CeDePesca organized a virtual meeting with the Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Province of Tierra del Fuego (PTF). The Secretary agreed to incorporate the data collection forms designed by CeDePesca into the PTF data collection protocols.
Regarding the data collection program by crew members, two virtual workshops (the first On April 22th) of Virtual Training on the introduction to on-board data recording were successfully carried out, where the Interaction between the Fishery and the Habitat and Interactions with superior predators (Birds, mammals and sea turtles), with the participation of two people the ship ECHIZEN MARU.
The second workshop was held on May 6th, to do reviewed of the data on interaction with habitat collected on board by the three crew members of the Centurión del Atlántico vessel was carried out, where it was possible to indicate the correct way to represent the information in the format.
Based on data collection program on August 31ST, CeDePesca prepared the second preliminary report of the data collected on board by the crew members of the fishing vessels Echizen Maru and Centurión del Atlántico. The report covers the period October 2021 – June 2022, and analyzes a total of 557 monitored fishing hauls.
Regarding improvements in research from April 25th to 29th, a scientific workshop the training is within the framework of the Fisheries Improvement Project (PROME) was held on the «Estimation of the Objective Biological Reference Point (PBRO) as an approximation to the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and definition of Harvest Control Rule (HCR), for INIDEP researchers in the framework of the FIP of Patagonian toothfish” taught by Dr. Cristian Canales, professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso.
To see the progress in the investigation of the Patagonian toothfish fishery related to the FIP, a meeting was held on August 16th, 2022, between INIDEP and CeDePesca. INIDEP expressed its satisfaction with the scientific workshop held in April and indicated that much progress has been made in the estimation of the target reference point as an approximation to the Maximum Sustainable Yield. The next step is to design a Harvest Control Rule.
In addition, INIDEP shared its research report No. 029/2022, which contains a descriptive analysis of the catches of grenadiers between 2010 and 2019 in order to establish the proportions of their catch in fishing sets directed at Patagonian toothfish. The results indicate that the grenadiers were differentiated into two groups: Small Grenadiers (Coelorynchus marinii and C. fasciatus) and Large Grenadiers (Macrourus carinatus and M. holotrachys), in the case of the group of Small Grenadiers, the percentages never exceeded 2% and a general average for the study period of 0 .37%. In the case of the Large Grenadiers, the percentages varied between 0.09% (2010) and 7.76% (2017) and a general average of 2.57%. From the analysis carried out, INIDEP states in its report that three of the four species were found to be underexploited and above their optimal biomass levels in recent years.
Regarding social aspects, CeDePesca and its FIP partners complied with the requirements of the new FisheryProgress policy by submitting the list of vessels associated with the FIP and a description of the grievance mechanisms currently available to fishers, considering data publicly available to CeDePesca and the information provided by the FIP partners.
Regarding FIP coordination, on September 29th, a meeting was held with the participation of FIP partners Estremar, Argenova, Pesantar, Nueva Pescanova and CeDePesca. The purpose of the meeting was to present the progress and future activities.
October 2022 – March 2023
On August 24, 2022, for the first time, INIDEP presented a specific sampling protocol for the collection of benthic invertebrate samples on vessels that operate in a targeted manner on Argentine Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), which aims to characterize and quantify the benthic community and to evaluate the effect that these fishing operations have on the bottom and its fauna, which will be of great help to comply with MSC standards.
On October 6th a meeting was held with INIDEP researchers, where they indicated that an article on mark and recapture would be published very soon, where the results preliminary would the existence of different stocks, based on the lack of exchange of fish between the fishing grounds. Minutes INIDEP_CeDePesca_06_10_2022
On December 1st, 2022, the Advisory Commission for the Monitoring of Patagonian Toothfish Fishing met. During the meeting, INIDEP presented a summary of the stock assessment (1980-2021 period), where for the first time they include the alternatives of Objective Biological Reference Points (PBRO): PBRO A1: 35% of the virgin BR and PBRO A2: 40% of the virgin BR, as approximate values to RMS. CASPMeN_ACTA 01-2022 and CASPMeN_ Annex III_ ACTA 01-2022, page Nº 9, in the Supporting Documents section below).
Within the framework of the Agreement between the Province of Tierra del Fuego and CeDePesca, a meeting was held on December 15th, 2022, where CEDEPESCA explained the scope of the Agreement to the aspiring observers on board the Province. Minutes_Workshop_15_12_2022.
On January 6th, 2023, CeDePesca continued with the training on data recording practices on board. On this occasion, the training included the participation of 5 crew members who will be in charge of data collection on board the fishing vessel Argenova XXI, owned by FIP Nueva Pescanova partners.
On January 17th, the Secretariat de Pesca y Aquaculture published a Disposition that updates the measures referred to the Advisory Commission for the Monitoring of the Fishing Activity of the Patagonian toothfish species (Dissostichus eleginoides), which defines a periodicity of two meetings per year and introduces improvements to control all landings, defining specific functions such as gathering all available information related to the species, studying and issuing an opinion on the control of catches, analyzing the degree of compliance with the regulations in force and suggesting measures to optimize it.
On February 6th, 2023, a virtual training was carried out on the variables of the MSC standard for aspiring on-board observers of the «On-Board Observers Program of the Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands» carried out by the Secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture, where a total of 25 applicants participated. PTF_Minutes_Workshop_06_02_2023
Continuing with the meetings with INIDEP researchers, on February 8, 2023 they reported that they intend to carry out two studies, the first on the analysis of Stable Isotopes (stock differentiation), and another on the Reproductive Physiology of Patagonian toothfish, and for this they request support for PROME. Minutes INIDEP_CeDePesca_08_02_202
Also on February 8th, the researchers indicated that the model for HCR estimation has already been implemented, but until the PBRs are defined, the analysis cannot be concluded.
On March 6th, 2023, CeDePesca shared with INIDEP the database from the FIP (period 2021-2022), which comprises complete information collected by the crew members of the vessels belonging to our partners.
On March 08th, 2023, CeDePesca held a virtual meeting with Juan Carlos Quiroz specialist in CASAL 2 which is a software widely used to assess fish populations, with the aim of organizing a scientific course for INIDEP researchers, specifically to the members of the Southern and Subantarctic Demersal Fish Fisheries Program that assess Patagonian toothfish.
On March 10th, 2023, a meeting was held with the Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Province of Tierra del Fuego (PTF), where it was learned that the training of the aspiring on-board observers was completed and it is expected that these applicants will begin the process of all the necessary documentation for embarkation.
The third preliminary report was prepared from the data collected on board by the crew members of the fishing vessels Echizen Maru, Centurión del Atlántico, Argenova XXI and San Arawa, between January 2022 and March 2023.
Regarding social aspects, on January 6th, 2023, a meeting was held in the city of Comodoro Rivadavia with 5 crew members of the ship Argenova XXI owned by the partners of Nueva Pescanova. During the meeting, they discussed the grievance mechanisms available in Argentina and its operation, complying with requirement 1.3 (Knowledge of the Rights of Fishermen) of the Human Rights and Social Responsibility Policy.
In order to follow up on the periodic management evaluation of the Patagonian toothfish fishery, in March 2023, CeDePesca completed the form requesting a Specialized Audit, to be carried out by the General Audit Office of the Nation in accordance with the provisions of Provision No. 98/14th.
During March 2023, CeDePesca prepared the document Human Rights and Social Responsibility Policy Statement of the Patagonian Toothfish – Bottom Trawl PROME in order to comply with the implementation of the new Fishery Progress policy.
April – September 2023
Between May, June and August 2023, the three phases of the CASAL scientific course were carried out with funding from the companies that make up the FIP through CeDePesca. The objective was to train researchers in the use of this tool as an alternative to the methods used in INIDEP for the evaluation of abundance and the diagnosis of the exploitation status of Patagonian toothfish, which is subject to exploitation by the fleet Argentina.
An agreement was signed between INIDEP and CeDePesca whose purpose is the identification and implementation of actions that allow solving the main obstacles to achieving the sustainability of the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), in this sense, the FIP support with the donation with equipment and instruments INIDEP to carry out studies of the population structure and knowledge of the reproductive physiology of Patagonian toothfish Dissostichus eleginoides in the waters of the American South.
In June 2023 INIDEP published the scientific article on Migratory patterns of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. The results would indicate that this behavior supports the hypothesis of isolation between different fishing grounds of the species that is exploited throughout the southern American cone.
CeDePesca held thre virtual meetings with officials of the Secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Province of Tierra del Fuego (PTF), where it was learned that the PTF completed the training of aspiring observers on board, and are in a stage of processing the documentation required. To date, 15 observers already have the documentation required for boarding and it is expected that all the group will be completed to begin boarding.
On August 31th, CeDePesca prepared a new preliminary report of the data collected on board by the crew of the fishing vessels Echizen Maru, Centurión del Atlántico, San Arawa II and Argenova XXI, between the period from October 2021 to June 2023, with A total of 992 fishing sets monitored.
On September 5th, the Advisory Commission for the Monitoring of Fishing Activity of the Patagonian toothfish species (Dissostichus eleginoides) met to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the bycatch of Patagonian toothfish, track the landing statistics of the fishery and exports, and learn about the evolution of the fishery by INIDEP. Based on the recommendations made by the Commission, on September 6th, the Federal Fisheries Council issued a resolution that establishes complementary measures related to the percentage and volume of minimum catch required to be considered a catch directed at Patagonian toothfish.
On September 22th of 2023, CeDePesca gave a workshop on introduction to risk analysis for habitats, to INIDEP researchers participating in the PROME of Patagonian toothfish, where he explained the details of the application of the Spatial and Consequence Analysis (CSA) methodology, for its acronym in English), used to evaluate the interaction with habitat according to the MSC standard.
Regarding social aspects, CeDePesca and its FIP partners met the requirements of the new FisheryProgress policy by completing the update of the Self-assessment of risk criteria, mechanisms of complaint and list of vessels associated with FIP.
October 2023 – March 2024
In its last assessment report published on November 7th, INIDEP presented the estimation of the alternative Biological Reference Points (PBRO) proposed for the management of the Patagonian toothfish fishery based on the estimation of the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY).
On November 17th, INIDEP presented a technical report on a bibliographic compilation of historical and recent information on stock identity, which according to this work would allow considering the existence of different stocks, so they suggest that it would be very useful to reconcile the different stocks with the different fisheries as exploitation units.
During the monitoring commission meeting held on November 21st, 2023, INIDEP reported on the conduct of ecological studies to understand the trophic and population aspects of Patagonian toothfish in marine ecosystems.
INIDEP Southern and Sub-Antarctic Demersal Fish Fisheries Program conducted a sample collection during a commercial fishing trip on November 24th aboard the BP San Arawa II, owned by PROME.
The final report of the CASAL2 course of January 2024 mentions the construction of a partial model that would allow the reproduction of the population and fishing processes included in the current Patagonian toothfish assessment model.
CeDePesca held 4 virtual meetings between September 2023 and February 2024 with representatives of the Secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Province of Tierra del Fuego. For the first time, the Secretariat of Fisheries will be collecting information on the interactions of the fishery with habitat and protected, threatened, and endangered species, using formats with the variables required by the MSC.
On February 28th, 2024, CeDePesca prepared a preliminary report based on data collected from crewmembers on PROME-associated vessels. Data collection was conducted from October 2021 to December 2023, covering 1293 hauls in 14 fishing trips.
Regarding social aspects, CeDePesca and its FIP partners met the requirements of the new FisheryProgress policy by completing the update of the Self-assessment of risk criteria, mechanisms of complaint, and the list of vessels associated with FIP.