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Common name - Swordfish
Scientific name - Xiphias gladius
Average rating
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Visit Fishonline for the full range of options available for this species.
Consumer Information
A magnificent solitary predator, extremely fast swimming with a fearsome-looking, pointed sword-like bill for stunning its prey. It can gather speed up to 50mph and relies on speed and agility to catch prey - incredible for animals that reach up to 4.5m in length! Like sharks, swordfish are at the top of the food-chain and play an important role in the marine ecosystem. Swordfish have been fished heavily for decades and have globally declined in abundance by 28% over the last 20 years. Despite this, it remains to be heavily targeted in both large commercial and small artisanal fisheries. Previously overfished throughout its range, improvements in management in recent years have seen stocks recover in most oceans. This cannot be said yet for the Mediterranean where stocks are still being overfished. Look for MSC certified swordfish from the North and North-West Atlantic.
Summary
A very valuable commercial species, swordfish have been heavily exploited throughout their range and previously overfished. Improvements to management in recent years have seen recovery in most stocks, yet the primary method of capture, pelagic long-line, continues to interact with other vulnerable species. The bycatch of turtles, birds and large sharks is still of great concern in these fisheries and it is vital that the bycatch mitigation measures available are employed and better methods continually developed. Harpooning is a much more selective method of fishing for swordfish. Make sure to look for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified swordfish from harpoon and long-line fisheries in the North and Northwest Atlantic, where measures are in place to reduce bycatch and the fishery is responsibly managed.
Alternatives
(Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating: only fish rated 3 and below are included.)
Visit Fishonline, the website for the seafood industry, for more detailed information about this species.