BROADBILL SWORDFISH: STATUS OF WORLD FISHERIES

Abstract

Longline fisheries targeting swordfish in the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) off eastern and western Australia have developed rapidly in recent years. As a result of prospects for continued expansion in Australia, fishing permits to operate in Australia’s Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery and Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery are increasing in value at a rapid rate. New and larger boats are entering the fishery and investment in the fishery has increased dramatically without an understanding of the impact of present levels of fishing effort. Several swordfish fisheries in other parts of the world, however, have shown an initial rapid expansion and then declined, prompting concern over the species’ ability to support intensive harvesting. Views on swordfish status are polarised between the fishing industry and conservation groups, with scientists in the middle ground. Conservation groups, for example, instigated a boycott of swordfish in restaurants in the United States and are calling for a complete ban on lon gline fishing. In response to the rapid increase of Australia’s swordfish fishery, the Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS) undertook a review of the world’s swordfish fisheries (Ward and Elscot 2000). The report consists of a summary of biological characteristics of swordfish that are relevant to stock assessment and fishery management, an overview of the world’s swordfish fisheries, detailed reviews of six swordfish fisheries and a comparison of the six fisheries. The main body of the report consists of detailed ‘case studies’ of one developing swordfish fishery (eastern Australia) and five established fisheries-fisheries that have passed an historical peak in catch levels. For each fishery, its history, catch levels and the geographical and seasonal distribution of fishing activities and catches are described. To help comparison between fisheries, the types of boats used, their fishing gear and fishing practices are described. Data collection, research and stock assessment are examined. Under the heading of ‘ma nagement’ the report details fishery management institutions, their objectives, management measures, bycatch and fishery interaction issues and advice needs. The future prospects for each swordfish fishery are examined and general conclusions about swordfish fisheries are developed. The summary from the report is provided below.