Swordfish Fisheries Overfishing the oceans/ Eradication (killing Abstract off) of food sources In 2016 the ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Swordfish ( scientific name = Xiphias gladius ) or also known as ‘billfish’. By Nathaniel Carter Atlantic Tunas) took notice that most of the fish being caught were around Currently there is a lot of controversy whither or not these fish are being the age of three years old taking up 50-70% of the total catches yearly. ‘overfished’ which could lead to endangering the species as a whole. After this discovery, a 15 year recovery plan was put into place in 2017 in Bio 115 hopes of the oceans repopulating themselves with a 60% probability. There are multiple factors creating adverse environmental problems for the Swordfish along with Atlantic Cod and Tuna are slowly becoming extinct. wild swordfish populations. Although many studies have yet to decide on Fishery Management For example: It has been over 15 years since the moratorium on fishing the worst foundational cause for the decline of swordfish and other marine Atlantic cod in eastern Canada, but the fish stocks have not replenished. life, the main offenders are recreation fishing, lack fishery management The disappearance of cod in the region is a wake up call on the effect. regulations and failure to diminish ByCatch and other poor fishing With all the new technology coming up in the world new ways of catching practices for fisheries worldwide. These are just 3 of the fishing industry fish are brought up every year. With the lack of fishing industry offenders leading to the endangerment of many types of fish which people regulations, scientists have proven a noticeable decline in marine life. have neglected to protect in order to maintain sustainable fishing resources Fishing ships casting “long lines” ( a line of hooks branching out from the and food sources. ship) can be deployed up to 60 miles and yet, who’s to say what they catch ByCatch on these lines. The huge areas being taken over by these fisheries does not allow the fish to repopulate because they’re constantly being caught. ByCatch is the incidental capture of non-targeted fish, including juveniles Swordfish are one of the many creatures of the deep who suffer from these and other species such as dolphins, marine turtles and types of methods along with sea turtles, dolphins and sharks who are at seabirds. Indiscriminate fishing practices mean fishers catch billions of constant threat from these insufficient regulations. There are a few fish and other creatures they don’t even want. This “bycatch” is often regulations which would seriously begin to manage the overfishing taking thrown back to sea dead or dying. Driftnets and longlines, place. These include: overwhelmingly used as the major swordfish gear type internationally and domestically, have some of the highest bycatch rates of any gear type. Inadequate fisheries regulations: Current rules and regulations are not Despite the availability of less harmful gear types, the vast majority of strong enough to limit fishing capacity to a sustainable level, especially for swordfish consumed in America and worldwide is caught by unsustainable the high seas, where there are few international fishing regulations. fisheries. Gear types like driftnets and longlines, often set to catch Lack of implementation/enforcement: Many countries have still not swordfish, are killing endangered and vulnerable species like leatherback ratified, implemented, or enforced international regulations such as the UN sea turtles, shortfin mako sharks, and sperm whales as bycatch. They have Convention on the Law of the Sea and the UN Fish Stocks Agreement. also drastically reduced populations of other species like the blue shark, © Brian J. Skerry/National Geographic Stock/WWF – bycatch pic forcing them onto the Near Threatened list as an estimated 20 million of these sharks are caught annually as bycatch. Lack of transparency and traceability: Customs agencies and retailers do not ensure the fish entering their countries and shops are caught legally and in a sustainable way. As a result, consumers are unwittingly supporting It has been estimated that global longline fisheries kill somewhere between poor management by purchasing fish from unsustainable fisheries. Only Sustainable fishing/ smart fishing 160,000 – 320,000 seabirds annually. Unfortunately, many of these species “7 Swordfish Facts That We Swear Are True.” Awesome Ocean, 14 when our seafood is traceable can markets and legal systems be effective are protected or endangered and such bycatch only serves to increase the Sept. 2016, awesomeocean.com/trending-now/7-swordfish-facts/. pace at which their populations decline. and reward sustainable practices while deterring irresponsible parties with Sustainable fishing is basically about what can be fished by who fines or loss of licenses. according to where, when, and the quantity being fished. Countries Recreation fishing Another impact from longline fisheries is a phenomenon known as ‘ghost are either failing to restrict fishing companies from owning and Failure to follow scientific advice: Fisheries management companies do fishing’. This is when the fishing gear is lost and not collected by the operating FoC (Flags of Convenience) vessels, or are not The question put before humanity is…Should people be allowed to fish for not heed scientific advice on fish quotas and set catch limits above the fishermen, allowing it to float around the world’s oceans indiscriminately entertainment of the wealthy few whose meat will not be used for human recommended maximum amount. overfishing can have on a species. rigorously inspecting FoC vessels landing at their ports. This catching and killing marine life. For longlines it is easy to see how this can consumption? The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and include countries with some of the biggest fishing fleets such as occur, as the lines are kilometers long and can be lost when other ships run over the lines, cutting them and separating them from the marker buoys so Management Act is the primary law governing marine fisheries Too few ‘no-go’ areas for fishing: Protected areas and no-take zones, the EU, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan (China). This allows illegal, the fishermen cannot find them again. Unlike bycatch which is pulled from management in U.S. federal waters. Key objectives of the MSA are to where fishing is banned or strictly regulated, can provide essential safe unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing to continue. IUU fishing the ocean within a matter of hours, however, such “ghost gear” will prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished stocks, increase long-term havens where young fish can grow to maturity and reproduce before they respects neither national boundaries nor international attempts to continue to kill animals until it degrades and breaks up, usually several economic and social benefits, and ensure a safe and sustainable supply of are caught, however, only 1.2% of the world's oceans have been declared manage fishing on the high seas. seafood. The MSA works well for those individuals who are fishing with in years after it is lost. A modest estimate is that ByCatch kills: as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and 90% of existing MPAs are still It puts incredible pressure on fish stocks and significantly distorts state boundaries and those who respect fishing laws. However, on the high being fished. seas, Swordfish and Tuna are being caught at will without sustainable global markets. 300,000+ small whales, dolphins and porpoises concerns. Fortunately, some fisheries are taking notice of the scientific Worth between US$10 -23.5 billion per year, it also presents a concerns for the ocean populations such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife major loss of income to coastal countries and communities. This is 100 million sharks Conservation Commission (FWC) which approved draft rule amendments especially the case for some of the world's poorest countries, which to make Florida consistent with regulations in federal waters of the South depend on fishing for food, livelihoods and revenues. 250,000+ loggerhead and leatherback turtles Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. The poachers are also killing tens of thousands of marine animals as bycatch and destroying delicate habitats through their thousands of seabirds The FWC approved a series of rule amendments for swordfish in state unregulated use of damaging, and sometimes illegal, fishing waters that are consistent with federal regulations. These rules limit practices. billions of unwanted fish and invertebrates recreational vessels to four swordfish per vessel and a special ‘headboat’ vessel limit of 15 swordfish, while retaining the individual daily bag limit of one swordfish per person References

“Fishing Problems: Poor Fisheries Management.” WWF, wwf.panda.org/our_work/oceans/problems/fisheries_management/.

“How Is Your Swordfish Caught? A Beginner's Guide to Commercial Fishing Methods.” Turtle Island Restoration Network, seaturtles.org/how-is-your- swordfish-caught/.

NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region. “Innovation in Swordfish Fishery Fetches a Higher Market Price.” NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region, NOAA. “Recreational Fishing.” NOAA Fisheries, 8 Mar. 2017, www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/stories/2017/06_02062017_swordfi www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/recreational-fishing#management. sh_efp_tagging.html ocean. “Overfishing.” 4Ocean, 4ocean.com/pages/overfishing?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4uzhtLqM3wIV1bfACh 2fxQ6wEAAYASAAEgLiLPD_BwE.

“How-To Catch Swordfish.” Florida Sportsman, www.floridasportsman.com/sportfish/swordfish/. “Smart Fishing.” WWF, wwf.panda.org/?200082%2FSmart-fishing.