Overview
Prospective FIPs intend to meet the requirements for active FIPs within one year. These projects are posted on FisheryProgress to help users identify opportunities to support developing FIPs and prevent the start of duplicate FIPs. Prospective FIPs are not yet demonstrating progress toward sustainability.
The Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) is a slow-growing, long-lived demersal fish species (over 50 years) inhabiting the southern seas. In Chile, two management units have been established: (i) Artisanal Fishing Area (APA) from the Arica and Parinacota region to 47°S, and (ii) Bidded Fishing Unit (UPL) from 47°S to 57°S (preferably industrial with an auction regime), both extending from the coastline to the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
This Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) will focus on the Artisanal Fishing Area (APA). The artisanal fleet operating within the APA conducts extensive latitudinal movements during extraction operations, undertaking long-term trips to harvest the resource using bottom longline fishing gear. Landings are regulated under the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), via Resolution EX No. 1469 / 2012 of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (SERNAPESCA).
The APA fishing unit is currently overexploited (SUBPESCA, 2024), with restricted access controls and limitations on the number of hooks per fishing trip. Patagonian Toothfish Management Committee has been in session since 2015 but has yet to establish a Management Plan for this resource.
For 2025, SUBPESCA has set a total allowable catch (TAC) for the APA area at 2,257 tons, based on the ranges recommended by the Scientific Technical Committee on Deepwater Demersal Resources in October 2024.
The Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) is a slow-growing, long-lived demersal fish species (over 50 years) inhabiting the southern seas.
