ish.By almost any measure, Atlantic swordfish are seriously over fished. The population biomass is well below the level necessary to produce maximum sustainable yield, East Coast commercial landings have dropped by half in the last decade, and the once-thriving recreational fishery for swordfish is now virtually extinct. The average-size swordfish caught today (around 90 pounds) is only a third of that caught in the 1960’s and well short of the reproductive size in females (150 pounds). These are the hallmarks of a depleted population - a serious problem in need of serious solutions.The good news is that swordfish are extremely prolific at reproducing and a total ban of commercial longlines would enable the swordfish to establish healthy levels in as short a period as five years. The only reason this barbaric type of fishing is still allowed is because fish are not considered animals. Pictures of countless fish left for dead does not invoke the emotion that a single mammal does. In Alaska, for example, a closure of long lining was initiated because of the effect on the leatherback sea turtle, a mammal. It is estimated that long liners in this area kill five to ten turtles every year. And even though any closure is a good closure the thousands of whale sharks (sharks, not mammals) that are killed in this area each year were given no respect until the turtle population began to show small signs of depletion.In conclusion, the plans in effect right now are just not enough to end this terrible Stanfield 4tragedy from continuing. It is impossible to regulate the entire world. But it is possible to ban this type of fishing in our country. While closures and quotas are steps in the right direction only a complete ban for at least five years will fully energize the populations of swordfish and allow scientists to study the effects of having waters free of gluttonous trappers. Hopefully, one-day fish will get the respect giv...
