Common Name	Swordfish	Conservation Notes
Scientific Name	Xiphius gladus	Sustainability Information
Market Names	Swordfish	Buying Tips
Sushi Name	Mekajiki, Kajiki-Maguro	Health/Nutrition

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Swordfish Market Alert - updated Aug. 2011

Canada’s swordfish fishery kicked off in June with a new wrinkle. This year the harpoon fleet will operate under a trial individual quota system for one year that allows fishermen to fish whenever they want. That move prompted retailer Whole Foods to announce they will feature the MSC-certified harpoon-caught swordfish throughout the summer under a program where the chain works directly with fishermen.

Canada’s longline fleet, however, which lands 90% of the country’s sword quota of about 1,300 metric tons, opted to fish as usual. Almost all of Canada’s sword is exported to the U.S.  U.S. East Coast boats, meanwhile, are once again not expected to catch their full swordfish quota, which this year is again just under 3,000 metric tons.  In recent years, U.S. fishermen, which fish under a quota set by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), have only landed about 60% of their quota due to a lack of effort. Out in the Pacific, Hawaiian boats are again expected to land about 1,500 metric tons this year.  In late July, H&G  fresh sword were selling to distributors for prices averaging about $5.50/lb., about the same as last year.

On the imported side, which typically accounts for about two-thirds of the U.S. sword supply, imports were down 13% through May to about 2,300 metric tons due largely due to a sharp drop in imports of fresh sword from Panama.  On the frozen front, imports of loins were up slightly to 817 metric tons, almost 75% of which was from Singapore, where high seas tuna longliners offload their sword by-catch. In spite of the slight increase in loin imports, average imported loin prices rose from $3.76/lb. last year to $3.97/lb. this year.

Conservation Notes

Advantages: Swordfish are large migratory predators that grow quickly during their first year of life and have few predators as adults, making them resilient to fishing pressure. North Atlantic swordfish quotas were reduced in 1999 as part of a 10-year plan to help rebuild stocks and, according to the most recent swordfish assessment, the population has recovered. Swordfish in the Pacific Ocean are considered to be relatively healthy. Overfishing is not occurring there due to a reduction in fishing efforts to keep the stocks healthy. Rod and reel, harpoon, handlines, and buoy gear for catching swordfish result in less bycatch than longlines, according to the Blue Ocean Institute. The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service reports that swordfish longliners in Hawaii operate under strict regulations to protect sea turtles. Swordfish off the California coast are caught with drift gillnets and bycatch is minimized there through fishery management measures, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Fishermen in the U.S. Atlantic are required to use circle hooks to reduce bycatch.

A harpoon swordfish fishery in North West Atlantic Canada has been certified against the Marine Stewardship Council’s sustainability standards. The longline swordfish fishery in the same region is currently in assessment, as is a pelagic longline and handgear buoy line fishery along the southeast coast of the United States. 

Challenges: There is a risk of short fin mako shark bycatch in the Atlantic Ocean. According to the Blue Ocean Institute, the swordfish fishery there is likely contributing to this threatened species’ decline. Swordfish in the Mediterranean are primarily caught using longlines, which results in high levels of bycatch that includes sharks, sea birds, endangered marine turtles, and undersized swordfish. Some swordfish there are also caught in driftnets despite a 2002 European ban on the gear. In addition, Mediterranean swordfish population levels have been declining and the species is listed as overfished.

Sustainability Information

	Seafood Watch	SeaChoice	FishWise	Blue Ocean Institute	New England Aquarium	Marine Stewardship Council
Canada Atlantic  Harpoon	Best Choice	Best Choice	Best Choice	Light Green	A List	Certified
Canada Atlantic  Handline	Best Choice	Best Choice	Best Choice	Light Green	A List
Canada Atlantic   Longline				Light Green
U.S. Atlantic Handline & Harpoon	Best Choice	Best Choice	Best Choice	Light Green	B List
U.S. Atlantic   Longline	Good Alternative	Some Concerns	Good Alternative	Light Green	B List
Atlantic Ocean outside U.S. & Canada Handline & Harpoon	Best Choice	Best Choice	Best Choice	Light Green	B List
Atlantic Ocean outside U.S. & Canada Longline	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	Light Green
U.S. Pacific Handline & Harpoon	Best Choice	Best Choice	Best Choice	Light Green	B List
U.S. Pacific Longline	Good Alternative	Some Concerns	Good Alternative	Light Green	B List
California Gillnet-Drift	Good Alternative	Some Concerns	Good Alternative	Light Green
Pacific Ocean International Handline & Harpoon	Good Alternative	Some Concerns	Good Alternative	Light Green
Pacific Ocean International Longline	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	Light Green
Indian Ocean  Handline & Harpoon	Good Alternative	Some Concerns	Good Alternative
Indian Ocean  Longline	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid
Mediterranean  Wild-caught	Avoid	Avoid	Avoid	Yellow

Rating Explanation

Seafood Watch, and Blue Ocean Institute's ratings are different by geographic and/or fishing method scope. Seafood Watch evaluates several different swordfish fisheries with differences in origin and catch method. Blue Ocean Institute's ratings differ by origin only and includes all gear types for a given geographic area.  

Buying Tips

• Swordfish has a firm, meaty texture and is a good source of selenium, niacin, vitamin B12, and zinc
• Bright white or pink swordfish meat with a bright red bloodline denotes freshness
• Avoid swordfish meat that is gray and bloodlines that are brown because that indicates lower quality fish
• Peak swordfish landings are August through October, which is also when the prices tend to be low
• Frozen swordfish is available year-round
• Swordfish quality can vary greatly because swordfish boats will be at sea for different lengths of time, from a few days to nearly a month
• Swordfish caught by California gillnet boats in the fall tend to be high quality fish, according to some buyers

Nutrition and Health

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that women of child bearing age and children should not eat swordfish due to concerns over high levels of mercury.

Acknowledgements

• Seafood Watch by Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Blue Ocean Institute
• SeaChoice
• Seafood Choices Alliance
• Environmental Defense Fund
• NOAA Fisheries