The fishing industry of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, a remote British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean, is renowned for its sustainable management and high-value catches, particularly of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides), often marketed as Chilean sea bass. The region’s fisheries, which also target mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) and Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), are tightly regulated through strict licensing, quotas, and monitoring to protect the fragile sub-Antarctic ecosystem. Historically, the area was infamous for intensive whaling and sealing in the early 20th century, but since the 1980s, the focus shifted to commercial fishing, with an emphasis on conservation and international cooperation. Today, South Georgia’s fisheries are considered among the best-managed in the world, with the Marine Stewardship Council certification underscoring their commitment to sustainability.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.