Heard Island and McDonald Islands, remote Australian territories in the southern Indian Ocean, have a highly regulated and specialized fishing industry focused primarily on the sustainable harvest of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), often marketed as Chilean sea bass. Commercial fishing in these sub-Antarctic waters began in the late 1990s, and the industry is strictly managed under the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) to prevent overfishing and protect the fragile ecosystem. The fishery operates under stringent quotas, environmental monitoring, and international agreements such as the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Patagonian toothfish remains the top and essentially only significant commercial species caught, with other species like mackerel icefish being of minor importance. The Heard Island and McDonald Islands fishery is recognized globally for its sustainability, receiving certifications such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.