Fish
Patagonian Toothfish
Dissostichus eleginoides · also called Chilean sea bass
Sold under an invented name that transformed it from an obscure deep-water fish into a prized restaurant dish, a Patagonian toothfish has weathered decades of illegal fishing pressure while remaining closely tied to its cold-water relative, the Antarctic toothfish.
Overview
The Patagonian toothfish, Dissostichus eleginoides, is a deep-water fish native to ocean habitat around the southern coasts of South America and surrounding sub-Antarctic waters. Its dramatic commercial rebranding, history of illegal fishing pressure, and slow growth and longevity make it one of the more economically significant and conservation-relevant fish species found anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere.
A fish transformed by marketing alone
Long before most consumers ever heard its actual name, this species became a restaurant staple under an entirely invented label, a rebranding so successful that it reshaped the species’ entire commercial fate and eventually drew the illegal fishing pressure that followed.
Status
Near Threatened, having faced significant historical pressure from illegal and unregulated fishing, though improved international management has helped stabilise many managed fisheries.
Patagonian Toothfish: common questions
Is Chilean sea bass a real type of bass?
No, this species is not a bass at all, but is marketed in restaurants and seafood markets worldwide under this completely different, invented common name, a rebranding that dramatically boosted its commercial demand and value.
Why has the Patagonian toothfish faced so much illegal fishing?
This species has faced significant pressure in the past from illegal and unregulated fishing operations, driven largely by its high commercial value once rebranded and marketed under its more appealing invented name.
How is the Patagonian toothfish related to the Antarctic toothfish?
This species is closely related to the Antarctic toothfish, sharing the same genus but occupying a somewhat different, generally less extreme range of ocean temperatures across the Southern Ocean and southern South America.
How deep does the Patagonian toothfish live?
This species is typically found at significant depth on continental shelves and slopes, often over a kilometre down in parts of its range around the southern coasts of South America.