Seafood
Swordfish - Atlantic Ocean
Swordfish are a large, migratory fish found in temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. They grow reasonably fast and mature quickly. Two populations of Swordfish occur in the Atlantic Ocean, being the North and South Atlantic groups which are separated at 5° N. The North Atlantic population is considered to be fully rebuilt. The population status of the South Atlantic Swordfish is uncertain but is currently considered to be above the management target of Biomass at Maximum Sustainable Yield. The overall abundance ranking of the Atlantic Swordfish population is medium. There is significant management effort by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas and member nations to maintain the Atlantic Swordfish population at sustainable levels.Most Swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean are caught using pelagic longlines. Longlines may also catch unwanted or endangered animals like sharks, seabirds and sea turtles, and may negatively impact the abundance of these species. Some Swordfish are also caught using rod and reel, harpoons, and buoy gear which, because these gears are more selective, results in less bycatch.
Learn MoreSwordfish - Pacific Ocean
Swordfish are a large, migratory fish found in temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. They grow reasonably fast and mature quickly, typically within 6 years. Various Regional Fisheries Management Organizations manage Swordfish populations in the Pacific Ocean, recommending catch limits, fishing vessel limits and bycatch mitigation methods. Although Swordfish abundance varies between regions of the Pacific, no population is considered overfished and overall, abundance is at a medium level. Pelagic longlines remain the main fishing method for catching Swordfish in the Pacific, while harpoons and drift gillnets are used off the U.S. west coast. Pelagic longlines cause little habitat damage, but bycatch of sharks, endangered sea turtles and birds is high.
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Swordfish - Mediterranean Sea
Swordfish are a large, migratory fish found worldwide in temperate and tropical waters, which grows reasonably fast and matures quickly. The Swordfish population in the Mediterranean Sea is thought to be overfished, with low abundance. The fishery traditionally catches many juveniles and before they can reproduce, which is a major cause of concern for the stability of the population. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas has set up a preliminary management plan to help rebuild the Mediterranean Swordfish population. Pelagic longlines remain the dominant fishing gear for catching Swordfish in the Mediterranean, which results in bycatch of other fish species particularly Atlantic bluefin tuna and sharks. Endangered loggerhead sea turtles and seabirds are also caught, which reduces their abundance in the Mediterranean Sea. Swordfish are also caught by driftnets despite the European Union’s ban on their use in the Mediterranean in 2002.
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