Fine-dining Patagonian toothfish behind mystery of Trump’s ‘penguin’ tariff

News.com.au - 04/04
One of the more bizarre inclusions on Donald Trump’s naughty list of nations to be tariffed on Wednesday was a small collection of Antarctic islands inhabited only by penguins, sparking widespread ridicule online.

One of the more bizarre inclusions on Donald Trump’s naughty list of nations to be tariffed on Wednesday was a small collection of Antarctic islands inhabited only by penguins, sparking widespread ridicule online.

But it turns out there’s a little bit more to it than that.

While the feathered inhabitants of Heard and McDonald Islands may not charge the US 10 per cent tariffs, as suggested by the President’s chart, America does in fact import a small amount of fish caught there – mainly the high-value Patagonian toothfish, as well as the Mackerel icefish.

The Patagonian toothfish. Picture: Australian Longline

The Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI), 4000 kilometres southwest of Perth, is managed by the Australian Antarctic Division while the surrounding fishery is under the control of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, which sets a strict quota of a little over 2000 tonnes per year.

The fishery is operated by two Australian com...
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