By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:35:54 +0000

Actually, according to the recent book by Oceana, the leading international ocean conservation group, “Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do to Save Them,” swordfish, like other very large predatory fish are 90 depleted from what stocks used to be from it’s high catch 30 or so years ago. Whereas the average weight of the swordfish catch was once over 300 lbs, it’s now 90 lbs. Because swordfish is at the top of the food chain, Oceana recommends avoiding eating them. It would be like eating the top predators of the forest. If they become severely depleted, the ecosystem falls out of balance. A very real and serious concern.

The Seafood Watch put out by Monterrey Bay Aquarium recommends avoiding any swordfish caught internationally (outside the US and Canada and the N Atlantic and E Pacific). This is because internationally the swordfish fisheries are not well managed. Longlines are the most common gear used and it results in great amounts of by-catch of seabirds, turtles and sharks. So if you really want to eat swordfish, make sure you know where it came and how it was caught… something very difficult to reliably know.

By: Allison

Allison — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 03:06:33 +0000

Swordfish are an example of how highly migratory species can rebound with international management mechanisms and responsible fishery management. Their numbers are higher than ever. They shouldn’t be lumped in with sharks and bluefin – it’s simply not accurate. But the writer is right about bluefin tuna.

Comments on: Overfishing Battle Strikes Home

By: Lisa

By: Allison