A 75-strong Navy crew has set sail from Dunedin on a mission to hunt down pirate fishing boats in the Ross Sea.
The high price of toothfish has made illegal fishing a tempting and lucrative activity.
The HMNZS Otago is en route to the Ross Sea, where crews will monitor vessels fishing in the rugged Southern Ocean.
Lieutenant Commander Andrew Sorensen says there’s only a short season to do this.
"It's a couple of months really for us, where the ice is receded enough for us to be able to get down there."
The area is home to the vulnerable toothfish and there are strict international rules around catching the delicacy.
Of the 17 vessels registered to fish for toothfish in the Ross Sea, three of them are Kiwis and the rest are international boats.
The Otago's crew will target ships thought to be higher risk and conduct surveillance on any pirate operations.
Last season, crew from the HMNZS Wellington were criticised for not boarding two foreign vessels found to be fishing illegally. The Navy says safety comes first.
"We're prepared for anything," Lt Cdr Sorenson says. "We've done training over the last couple of months to make sure everyone's as well-prepared for the worst-case scenarios."
They've also got plenty of emergency supplies and rations, along with thermal suits and lifejackets for the frigid Antarctic waters.
Experienced ice pilot Andrew Leachman is on board to assist in navigating the Otago through the icy seas.
"It has 10,000 horsepower, so you've got oodles of power. But the secret is to do it slow, and to really avoid the ice."
The team will spend the next three weeks patrolling the Ross Sea in a bid to ensure fishing there remains sustainable.
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