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Swordfish

Swordfish get their name from their long, flat, sword like bills. They use their “swords” to hunt and kill their prey while swimming up to 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour), making these fish one of the fastest fish in the sea!

 

Swordfish are found globally, in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. They are migratory fish; they migrate to colder waters for feeding in the summer season before then migrating back to warmer waters for spawning for the winter season. Living for about 10 years, these fish can grow to 4.45 meters (14.6 feet) long. Averaging around 22.7 – 90.7 kilograms (50-200 pounds), these fish can even weigh up to 544.3 kilograms (1,200 pounds)! Along with their distinctive “sword”, these fish have unique crescent shaped fins and crescent shaped tails, and they are dark brown with paler bellies.

Swordfish are opportunistic predators, meaning that they prey on whatever they can take advantage of in the moment. This prey is mostly feeding fish, squid, and crustaceans. Swordfish can dive up to 2,878 meters (1.79 miles) below the surface, searching for their prey. These fish are skilled hunters, using their sword to hunt and kill their prey. Swordfish are top predators and have few natural predators, however, young swordfish need to be aware of predators such as sharks and other large fish.

 

 

Swordfish are currently listed as a species of “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List, However, population trends show that the swordfish population is currently decreasing. Over the past 20 years, the global swordfish population has decreased by 28%. Swordfish are quite valuable to the commercial fishing market and because of this, they are threatened by overfishing in parts of their range. They are considered overfished in the South Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

 

 

Ensuring adequate fisheries management across the swordfish’s range is critical to stopping their population decline and keeping the species healthy. Learn about how Oceana is working to protect species, like swordfish, from overfishing by campaigning to stop overfishing and to promote responsible fishing.

 

 

 

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