What Year Was the Fishing Mortality Highest for North Atlantic Swordfish?
The North Atlantic swordfish fishery has been around since the early 1960s and is mostly directed longline fishing. Bycatch is also prevalent and the species has experienced a decrease in biomass over this time. In the early 1990s, management measures such as minimum size and bycatch allocations began to take effect and caused a shift of effort from the North Atlantic to smaller scales. By the mid-1990s, the TAC was reduced to prevent the overfishing of this beautiful fish.
The Atlantic swordfish fishery was first established in 1921, and today it is a popular recreational fishery. The populations are recovering, and many of the positive factors that caused the decline in the species are still present in the Western Atlantic. Despite the high levels of overfishing, many fishermen continue to pursue this sport. And while some people still find the hobby appealing, many scientists believe that the swordfish population is recovering.
The Western Atlantic swordfish fishery also shares the negative aspects of the fishery. The species lacks the large lifespan and productivity associated with swordfish and is severely depleted. As a result, the population is only 20% of its 1975 level. This suggests that the populations are slowly returning to their former abundance levels. In addition, fishermen can use the swordfish as bait against other large animals, such as sharks.
Although the Atlantic and Mediterranean swordfish are both widespread, their ranges are very similar. The eastern portion of the fishery is from Canada to Argentina, and the western portion stretches from Norway to South Africa. The North Atlantic and Mediterranean swordfish are clearly separate groups. Recent genetic analyses suggest that they belong to two different stocks. The boundaries of these two stocks are not entirely clear, but mixing is expected to be very high.
The two groups of swordfish are widely distributed in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. On the western side, the species ranges from Canada to Argentina, and on the eastern side, from Norway to South Africa. The populations are split into separate subspecies, with the western and eastern Atlantic fisheries taking the small species, while the southern group takes the large ones. While the two regions have similar distributions, they differ in the extent of mixing between these two groups.
The population is recovering from overfishing and is now a healthier population than it was in the 1950s. While the Atlantic region is home to two distinct populations of swordfish, each has its own unique characteristics. On the western side, the Atlantic fishery includes small-scale operators, while the northern part is dominated by large-scale commercial operations. In the eastern part, the stock is predominantly a mixed bag, containing both large and small-scale fish.
The two populations are closely related. The northern Atlantic region is more productive and has longer lifespan. The southern Atlantic population has suffered from overfishing, whereas the northern Atlantic is in recovery. In both areas, the fishing mortality rate for the north atlantic swordfish was highest in 2013. If the European Union wants to protect this fishery, it should regulate its commercial activity. A more balanced population will result in a more sustainable future for the species.
The Atlantic and Mediterranean regions are also home to the world’s largest populations of swordfish. The northern part of the ocean is warmer than the southern, and the species can be found all year long. The corresponding subtropical waters have colder temperatures during the summer. The populations in the western and southern Atlantic are largely separated by their geographical ranges. Its two populations are not separated genetically.
The Atlantic and Mediterranean oceans are the main habitats for the swordfish. The fishery is widely distributed across the continent. Its northern range extends from Canada to Argentina, while the eastern range includes the Mediterranean and the United States. In the western Atlantic, it is also found in the Pacific. The northern portion is more productive, and the southern area is more fertile. However, the harvesting mortality was relatively low.
