MSC pre-assessment made available

Participants confirmed

Updated 2023 workplan

Workplan made public

The FIP has released a preliminary report of data on the interactions between the fishery and habitats and ETP species from October 2021- December 2023. 

The final CASAL2 report has been made available; the report reveals that the recent stock assessment maintains the estimates of alternative biological reference points. During the course, a partial model was built that would allow the reproduction of the population and fishery processes included in the current Patagonian toothfish assessment model. 

The FIP has held several virtual meetings with representatives of the Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Province of Tierra del Fuego. At the meetings, the group discussed observer accreditation, fishery-habitat interactions and the creation of a Whatsapp group to maintain communications during fishing trips. 

The FIP held a second training workshop on interactions between the fishery and habitats and ETP species. The training was attended by 6 observers and covered protocols for the rescue, maintenance and release of ETP species. 

The FIP conducted an evaluation of the abundance and exploitation of the Patagonian toothfish in the SW Atlantic between 1980-2022; the report proposes reconciling the various stocks with different fisheries as exploitation units. 

The FIP has produced a preliminary analysis using monitoring data from October 2021- June 2023. The data demonstrates that 65% of the 992 monitored fishing sets recorded interactions with bird and/ or marine mammal species (15,909 birds and 50 mammals) with black-browed albatross and cormorants being the most prominent; six black-browed albatross deaths resulted from net interactions.

The FIP conducted a virtual meeting with a specialist in software used for fish population assessments, aiming to organize a scientific course for INIDEP researchers. The course is focused on data collection, stock assessment modeling, and diagnostics techniques for Patagonian toothfish. 

The FIP published a scientific article on the migratory patterns of Patagonian toothfish in the SW Atlantic Ocean, using data from the tagging and recapture program. The study, involving 5,907 tagged specimens, demonstrated high site fidelity and limited migratory movements among toothfish populations, suggesting the possibility of distinct isolated groups within the southern American cone; the FIP partners are supporting further research on the population structure and trophic ecology as a result of the study.

The FIP has requested a specialized audit to be conducted to evaluate the fishery's management. The audit encompasses three main areas: monitoring compliance with regulations, assessing TAC against BAC, and analyzing adherence to INIDEP's recommendations from 2019 to 2021.

The FIP organized the 6th training workshop on onboard data recording practices;  five crew members attended the workshop and participated in a module on handling and release methods.

The FFC (Federal Fisheries Council) has issued Regulation 15/2023 which will update measures for the enhancement of monitoring of the Patagonian toohfish by the Advisory Commission. The updated measures include: hosting biannual meetings, enhanced control measures for landings, the establishment of a Control Subcommittee and various inspection protocols. 

Advisory Commission for the Monitoring of Patagonian toothfish fishing activity met with the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture, the FFC, INIDEP and fishing sector reps; INIDEP presented a summary of the stock assessment (1980-2021 period) and the BAC for the year 2023. Biological reference points results and alternatives were also presented. 

Virtual meeting held between INIDEP and CeDePesca; a prospective CASAL software scientific workshop will be held to identify improvements to the current Patagonian toothfish resource assessment model

The second preliminary report of the data collected by onboard observers between October 2021-June 2022 has been made available; Out of 557 monitored hauls, a bird/ marine mammal interaction was recorded 41% of the time.

CeDePesca and INIDEP held a meeting to discuss the outcomes of the scientific workshop conducted in April

FIP scientific framework workshop held in April 2022; topics dicussed included: reference points, MSY and HCR definitions. 

Virtual training workshop was put on by CeDePesca on best practices for logging data onboard vessels.

Virtual meeting held between the Tierra del Fuego Secretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (TFP), CeDePesca, and the onboard oberver program; parties agreed to incoporate the CeDePesca data collection format into the TFP data collection format with regards to habitat and ETP information.

Preliminary data collected through the observer program between Nov 2021- Jan 2022 has been published.

INIDEP presented the draft protocol for the sampling of benthic invertebrates. 

CeDePesca held a virtual meeting with INIDEP researchers to formally present the results of the fishery's MSC pre-assessment and the FIP Action Plan; meeting minutes available

Letter from CeDePesca to the Undersecretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture (SSPyA) requesting the history of sanctions in the Patagonian toothfish fishery.

Technical report on the abundance index of juvenile toothfish between 2017-2019 has been made available. 

Increase to PI 2.2.2; partial strategy available for secondary species based on information collected in the the INIDEP Technical Report N° 029/2022. Grenadier caught as bycatch in the fishery are highly likely not to be considered main secondary species.

INIDEP introduced a sampling protocol for benthic invertebrates to characterize and quantify the benthic community and assess the fishing impact on the seabed and fauna; CeDePesca shared data from FIP partner vessels, covering various aspects of fishing operations and interactions with ETP species, to support INIDEP's research. 

Increase to PI 3.2.3; sanctions are in place to enforce the law