SIMPLE changes to fishing gear and fishing practices could help swordfish populations in the Mediterranean recover from intensive fishing.
Adult swordfish grow to lengths of more than 4 metres and can weigh up to half a tonne. But in the past two decades, the average weight of those caught in the Mediterranean has dropped from 48 kilograms to just 10. Half do not meet the minimum length requirement of 125 centimetres. But many restaurateurs prefer smaller fish because they are a better size for the plate.
“In the past, when fishermen caught juveniles, they just threw them back. But now the tourist market has a strong…
