The World Wildlife Federation (WWF) is asking nearly 50 countries for a big change in the fishing industry, with the intent of saving the Mediterranean swordfish. If overfishing of this species continues, it could lead to its extinction. Now the WWF is looking to crack down on the decades of overzealous swordfish harvesting.
The 48 nations involved, which include the US, Japan, and many members of the European Union, are members of the International Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). This group is now working to find ways to address the concerns of the WWF when it comes to the Mediterranean swordfish, as well as bluefin tuna and sharks. A decrease in the numbers of swordfish caught in recent years is the primary indicator that the species population is in danger. Catches have decreased by nearly 50 percent, and fishermen have resorted to killing juvenile swordfish. This adds to the problem by removing fish from the population before they can reach breeding age.
Addressing that problem head on, WWF Mediterranean Marine Initiative director Giuseppe Di Carlo said, “We cannot afford to delay actions and repeat the same mistake that brought bluefin tuna to the verge of collapse in the past. The Mediterranean swordfish is seriously at risk.” Currently, swordfish of breeding age are estimated to be at 88 percent lower that a level considered safe to maintain stock. “It is critical for ICCAT to implement an ambitious recover plan,” Di Carlo says.
EU fishing fleets account for about 75 percent of the total catch of the Mediterranean swordfish, with the biggest numbers coming from Italy, Greece, and Spain. In order to give the species a chance to recover and catch up, the WWF is asking these nations to make strong reductions in the amount of swordfish caught. This will give the swordfish the chance to recover and grow in population, fending off the danger of extinction.
