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Last month the Ross Sea Longline Fishery for Antarctic Toothfish Dissostichus mawsoni was certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council.  Currently seven vessels are involved in the fishery setting bottom longlines (click here).

"The fishery operates within the Ross Sea Ecosystem of the Southern Ocean.  All fishing activity is overseen by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and all vessels operating in the area must comply with CCAMLR and individual flag state requirements.  Management rules and practices closely follow precautionary and ecosystem-based principles.  Catch levels and other conservation measures are agreed by CCAMLR, based on the advice of their scientific committee, and accredited observers monitor compliance with these measures onboard each vessel."

"Management of this fishery follows precautionary and ecosystem-based principles.  Strict harvest control rules, annual stock assessments, mandatory observation of fishing activities and controls on gear to avoid by-catch of seabirds are just some of the practical outcomes of that approach, recognised and rewarded by this certification."

Quotes above taken from http://www.msc.org/newsroom/news/ross-sea-toothfish-longline-fishery-gains-msc-certification/?searchterm=Ross Sea.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 13 December 2010