North Atlantic
Swordfish (Xiphias
gladius)
- Swordfish population levels are high and no overfishing is occurring.
- Strict federal fisheries management measures are improving the condition of the fishery, and a fishing industry/NOAA partnership is successfully reducing sea turtle bycatch.
- Swordfish is an excellent source of selenium, niacin, and vitamin B12 and a good source of zinc. Swordfish may contain amounts of methylmercury in excess of the FDA's recommended limit for moms, moms-to-be, and young children. For more information, see EPA and FDA advice on what you need to know about mercury in fish and shellfish.
- About 37 percent of the swordfish sold in the U.S. comes from the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico; the rest is Pacific swordfish, where population levels are also high.
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Nutrition Facts |
Servings 1 |
Serving Weight
100g |
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Amount Per Serving |
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Calories 121 |
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Total Fat |
4.01 g |
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Total Saturated Fatty Acids |
1.097 g |
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Carbohydrate |
0 g |
Sugars |
0 g |
Total Dietary
Fiber |
0 g |
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Cholesterol |
39 mg |
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Selenium |
48.1 mcg |
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Sodium |
90 mg |
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Protein |
19.8 g |
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This large swordfish was caught on a NOAA research cruise. Scientists can learn a great deal of information from this fish (including what its last meal was and how old it is) and will archive DNA samples for future comparisons.
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Did you know?
Its species name, gladius, is
derived from the word for the sword carried by
Roman legionnaires.
Adult swordfish have no teeth
or scales.
Swordfish "breathe" by
continually swimming with their mouths open and
flushing oxygen-rich water over their gills.
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Swordfish capture prey by slashing their long flat bill, stunning or injuring prey in the process. Broken swordfish bills have been found embedded in ship hulls.
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A study funded by NMFS found that using circle hooks instead of J hooks significantly reduced the chance of serious injury to sea turtles. Researchers also developed new de-hooking and release techniques to increase survival of sea turtles that are incidentally caught.
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Sustainability Status
Biomass: 99% of the biomass that supports maximum sustainable yield (BMSY)
Overfishing: No
Overfished: No
Fishing and habitat: Longline gear used to fish for North Atlantic swordfish has few impacts on open water habitat.
Bycatch: Finfish, along with
sea turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds were identified as
concerns for this fishery in the 2003 Highly
Migratory Species Bycatch Reduction Plan.
Aquaculture: There is currently no commercial aquaculture of swordfish in the U.S.
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Science and Management
Because swordfish is considered a highly migratory species (HMS), it is managed in the U.S. and at the international level. Atlantic swordfish management in the United States began with the 1985 Fishery Management Plan (FMP). The U.S. was concerned primarily with reducing the harvest of juvenile swordfish and foreign impact on the domestic fishery. The International Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) was established in 1969 to foster international cooperation for the management of Atlantic HMS, including Atlantic swordfish. Member countries include the U.S., Canada, the European community, and Japan. The Commission meets annually to review scientific advice regarding the management of HMS and to develop conservation and management measures. The Commission adopted its first conservation measures regarding swordfish in 1990. In 1999, the United States developed a new FMP for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks using similar ideas as the 1985 FMP and calling for an international rebuilding plan. In November 1999, ICCAT established a 10-year rebuilding plan that has protected juvenile swordfish, helping the population to rebuild. The rebuilding plan was initiated in 2000, with a goal for the stock to be rebuilt by 2010. In 2006, 3 years ahead of schedule, biomass was at 99 percent BMSY. A Final Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species FMP was published in July 2006.
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Life History and Habitat
Life history, including information on the habitat, growth, feeding, and reproduction of a species, is important because it affects how a fishery is managed. For example, scientists have determined the approximate size of swordfish at sexual maturity (between the ages of 5 and 9) to be a length of about 47 inches. Setting size limits (i.e., fishermen cannot keep swordfish smaller than 47 inches lower jaw fork length) allows swordfish to reach reproductive maturity and reproduce before they are removed from the population. This species' broad distribution, large spawning area, and prolific nature have contributed to its resilience, despite heavy fishing pressure from many nations.
- Geographic range: Gulf Stream of western North Atlantic Ocean, extending north into the Grand Banks; the North Atlantic stock is also in eastern Atlantic along Africa/Europe
- Habitat: Found in surface waters but feed throughout water column
- Life span: Short; 9+ years
- Food: Groundfish, pelagics (or open water fish), deep-water fish, and invertebrates such as squid
- Growth rate: Rapid; females grow faster than males
- Maximum size: Up to 1,165 pounds
- Reaches reproductive maturity: Between 5 and 9 years
- Reproduction: Swordfish spawn numerous times throughout the year. Females produce a highly variable number of eggs: from 1 to 16 million in a 370-pound female to 29 million in a 600-pound female.
- Spawning season: Year-round
- Spawning grounds: Warm tropical and sub-tropical waters
- Migrations: Swordfish annually migrate thousands of miles along the eastern seaboard of the United States and Canada and also in eastern Atlantic along Africa/Europe.
- Predators: Swordfish are top predators, but juvenile swordfish may fall prey to other larger fish.
- Commercial or recreational interest: Both
- Distinguishing characteristics: Swordfish have special eye muscles and a heat exchange system, both of which allow them to swim in deep cold water in search of prey. They also have a streamlined body that facilitates swimming at high speeds.
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Role in the Ecosystem
Adult and juvenile swordfish feed at the highest levels of the food chain. This means they are not typically prey to other animals and are important in keeping the ecosystem in balance by consuming smaller fish and invertebrates.
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Additional Information
Market name: Swordfish
Vernacular names: Broadbilled swordfish, Broadbill, Espada, Emperado
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Biomass
Biomass refers to the amount of North Atlantic swordfish in the ocean. Scientists cannot collect and weigh every single fish to determine biomass, so they use models to estimate it instead. These estimates can help determine if a stock is being fished too heavily or if it may be able to tolerate more fishing pressure. Managers can then make appropriate changes in the regulations of the fishery. North Atlantic swordfish biomass is on the rise and the stock is almost completely rebuilt.
Landings
Landings refer to the amount of catch that is brought to land. The United States harvests about 1/5 of the total North Atlantic landings; several other nations (such as Japan, Spain, Portugal, and Canada) are also active in the North Atlantic swordfish fishery. With increased restrictions on the domestic fishery, U.S. landings remain low while international landings have been rising.
Biomass and Landings
Are landings and biomass related? Landings are heavily dependent on biomass, management measures in the fishery, and fishing effort. Landings increased steadily from the beginning of the fishery up until the late 1980s. Stricter regulations and decreased biomass in the ocean may help to explain the decline in landings after the peak in the late 1980s.
Data sources:
Biomass and landings from ICCAT Report of the 2006 Atlantic Swordfish Stock Assessment Session
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Important Dates
1920s – Recreational
fishery begins, primarily from Massachusetts to New York
1960s – Long-line gear introduced into commercial fishery, replacing traditional use of harpoons
1970s – Recreational fishery develops
in Florida
1971 – FDA prohibits sale of swordfish
with mercury content greater than 0.5 parts per million
1978 – FDA raises maximum mercury
content to 1.0 parts per million
1985 – Atlantic Swordfish Fishery
Management Plan (FMP) implemented, mainly calling for reductions
in harvest of smaller swordfish, continued research and monitoring
of swordfish population, and minimization of foreign impacts
on the fishery.
1990 – ICCAT
(International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic
Tunas) passes its first recommendation on swordfish,
calling for reductions in harvest of undersized swordfish;
NMFS follows with a ruling limiting harvest of undersized swordfish
1999 – FMP for Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish, and Sharks replaces 1985 Plan, still utilizing many of the initial management measures; also calls for U.S. to negotiate international rebuilding plan
1999 – ICCAT establishes a 10-year
rebuilding program for North Atlantic swordfish
2002 – Stock assessment determines
that North Atlantic swordfish stock biomass was 94% of levels
needed for maximum sustainable yield (BMSY)
2004 – NMFS implements several bycatch reduction measures in the commercial fishery, such as mandatory use of "circle hooks"; circle hooks reduce the amount of bycatch and allow for easier release of swordfish and other species (such as sea turtles and marine mammals) in comparison to the traditional "J" hook
2006 – NMFS develops a revised Atlantic
Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan
2006 – October stock assessment estimates
that biomass of North Atlantic swordfish is approximately
99% of the biomass necessary to support maximum sustainable
yield
2007 – Regulations amended implementing two recommendations from ICCAT; establishes baseline quotas and sets caps on the carryover of underharvests; facilitates the transfer of 15% of the North Atlantic swordfish baseline quota into the reserve category, which would allow it to be transferred to other ICCAT parties with quota allocations; also establishes an option for website reporting in the angling and charter/headboat groups
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Notes and Links
General Information:
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Division of Highly Migratory Species is responsible for managing North Atlantic Swordfish in U.S. waters. This site has the most current legislation and actions regarding the North Atlantic swordfish.
The Adopt-a-Billfish program is run out of NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center. This site utilizes satellites and computerized tags to monitor marlin, swordfish, and swordfish. This project shows how new technology and cooperation from anglers can help scientists collect data on these exciting species.
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
NMFS site for reporting recreational landings of swordfish
Fishery Management:
NMFS Highly Migratory Species Division Final Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan
Stock Assessments:
ICCAT Report of the 2006 Atlantic Swordfish Stock Assessment Session
NMFS Highly Migratory Species Division SAFE Reports for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species 2000-2006
2007 Annual Report of the United States to ICCAT
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