Spatial and Temporal Size Distribution of Swordfish ( <i>Xiphias gladius</i> ) in the Atlantic Ocean: Implications for Conservation and Management
Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) is a common target species of surface pelagic longline fisheries. In the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, swordfish is managed as three separate stocks, all having management measures in place to rebuild or conserve the stocks, including minimum landing sizes. The objective of this study was to review size data for swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean, model the sex-specific size distribution and determine areas where there is higher likelihood of capturing undersized fish. The size distribution differed between males and females and varied by quarter, indicating movements of large fish between temperate and tropical waters. Undersized fish seems to occur in association with coastal waters, with higher proportions in the Northwest Atlantic and tropical areas. This study provides a better understanding of the temporal and spatial size and sex distribution of swordfish and presents insights into the distribution of undersized swordfish that is subject to management measures.
Authors
- Luigi Pappalardo
- Andrés Domingo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1793-7663)
- José Carlos Báez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2049-0409)
- Daniela Rosa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7156-7408)
- Pedro G. Lino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0214-6172)
- Paulo Travassos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8667-5292)
- Karim Erzini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1411-0126)
- Rodrigo Sant’Ana (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2252-6014)
- Laurent Bahou
- Rui Coelho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3813-5157)
- Bruno Leite Mourato (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8405-3983)
- Craig M. Brown (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9637-9355)
- David Macías (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3054-2858)
- Luis Gustavo Cardoso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9388-0689)
- Michael J. Schirripa
- Rodrigo Forselledo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6836-2687)
- Freddy Arocha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5814-0626)
- Josetxu Ortiz de Urbina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9525-6783)
- Sven Kerwath (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2751-5015)
- Kyle Gillespie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4221-3173)
- Mikihiko Kai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9113-6469)
- Francisca Salmerón (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8907-5444)
- Nan‐Jay Su (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1370-0842)
- Guillermo A. Diaz
- Alex Hanke
- Miguel N. Santos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5925-8465)
Institutions
- NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (US)
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (BR)
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada (CA)
- National Taiwan Ocean University (TW)
- Universidad de Oriente (VE)
- Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute (PT)
- Universidad Autónoma de Chile (CL)
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (ES)
- Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (JP)
- Instituto de Pesca (BR)
- NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center (US)
- Center for Marine and Oceanographic Research (CI)
- Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (BR)
- Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga
- Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (BR)
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture
- Published
- 2025-03-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1080/23308249.2025.2471085
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Marine and fisheries research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.32
Funders
- European Social Fund