Top Antarctic Toothfish Fishing Countries

The Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) is a large predatory fish native to the deep, cold waters of the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica. Prized for its firm, white flesh and often marketed as "Chilean sea bass," the Antarctic toothfish supports a lucrative commercial fishery regulated by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). The primary countries involved in harvesting Antarctic toothfish are New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, and Spain, with vessels from these nations operating under strict quotas and monitoring to prevent overfishing and protect the fragile Antarctic ecosystem. These countries have developed advanced longline fishing techniques to target toothfish in remote, icy waters, and their catches supply high-end seafood markets worldwide.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.