|
Consolidated Fisheries' main product is Patagonian Toothfish
Patagonian Toothfish from the Southern Oceans
(FALKLAND ISLANDS, 6/16/2010)
Consolidated Fisheries Ltd (CFL) is a fishing company that owns 100 percent of the quota for Patagonian Toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides) in the Falkland Islands. The quota allows the company to catch 1,200 metric tonnes a year of Patagonian Toothfish in the Falkland Islands Conservation Zone.
 |
| CFL is now one of the biggest fishing companies in the Falkland Islands |
The Falkland Islands fishing area consists of the Inner and Outer Conservation Zones. CFL vessels operate largely within the FOCZ (Falkland Islands Outer Conservation Zone) although at certain times of the year they operate in slightly shallower waters of the FICZ (Falkland Islands Inner Conservation Zone).
The FOCZ covers an area of approximately 60,000 square metres and is characterized by fast moving cold currents and deep waters, with fishing lines deployed regularly up to 2000 metres in depth.
 |
| The toothfish has a distinctive white flesh, high in oils with an even texture |
The Falkland Islands Government operates a system of Internal Transferable Quota (ITQ). Under this system quota is allocated by the Falkland Islands Fisheries Department to locally owned fishing companies for periods up to 25 years. CFL is currently in its third year of operation under the ITQ system.
This gives CFL a good incentive to protect and care for the resource, working in close proximity with the Fisheries Department and NGO’s (Non Governmental Organizations) to ensure that valid stock assessment models are developed.
CFL has recently funded the post of stock assessment scientist whose principle task is to carry out an exhaustive stock assessment of toothfish in the zone. The scientist works closely with other staff from the Fisheries Department to fully understand the patterns of recruitment of juveniles into the fishery, to identify breeding grounds and to assess the health of the stock distribution.
South American Atlantic Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of CFL, was set up in 2005 to provide a much needed container link between the Falkland Islands and South American ports. This service has given Falkland Island industries the shipping flexibility required to develop and expand their businesses.
 |
| The quota allows CFL to catch 1,200 metric tonnes a year of toothfish |
CFL also owns 50 percent of Falklands Fish Farming Limited, a company which is developing fish farming of indigenous species in the Falkland Islands. Local inshore waters are ideally suited to aqua cultural activities and whilst still in its infancy, it represents good future prospects for diversification and development in the Islands.
About Consolidated Fisheries Ltd.
 |
| Patagonian toothfish ready to be processed |
Consolidated Fisheries Ltd was set up in 1994 as a consortium of local fishing companies to carry out exploratory fishing in the nascent toothfish fishery.
The Falkland Islands Fisheries Department (FIFD) considered that the fishery represented a prime opportunity for local fishing businesses to pool resources to establish the very first locally owned, managed and operated fishing company. Following the experiment FIFD established a 2 vessel fishery and awarded both licences to Consolidated Fisheries Ltd.
CFL is now one of the biggest fishing companies in the Falkland Islands and contributes significantly to the local economy through both its fishing and non-fishing activities. Initially CFL chartered vessels, but in 1997 it purchased the CFL Pioneer. This was followed in 2000 with the purchase of the CFL Valiant.
Having sold the CFL Pioneer in 2004, the company purchased the CFL Gambler and by doing so removed another vessel out of the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fleet. CFL is a member of COLTO (Coalition of Legal Toothfish Operators), an organization which represents international legal toothfish operators by supporting legal and sustainable toothfish fishing.
 |
| The CFL Gambler |
CFL’s main product is Patagonian Toothfish, but it also sells by-catch of ray and grenadier. An experimental period undertaken by the CFL Valiant in 2006 led to a number of other species being marketed including kingclip ( Genypterus spp.) and hake ( Merluccius capensis).
The Patagonian Toothfish is sold under the trade name of Chilean Sea Bass in the United States, Merluza Negra in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay, and Mero in Japan. A close relative, the Antarctic Toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni,) is found further south around the edges of the Antarctic shelf.
Related News
Margaret E.L. Stacey
Editor Companies and Products
Information of the company:
|
Address:
|
P.O. Box 383, Raymar House, Lookout Industrial Estate
|
|
City:
|
Stanley
|
|
State/ZIP:
|
(FIQQ 1ZZ)
|
|
Country:
|
Falkland Islands
|
|
Phone:
|
+500 22277
|
|
Fax:
|
+500 22211
|
|
E-Mail:
|
info@consolidatedfisheries.com
|
More about: 
|
Approval / Accreditation / Certified / Oversight by...
|
Print
