North Atlantic swordfish have recovered to 94% of levels considered healthy over the last three years, according to a new report issued by the scientific arm of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas.
In 1998, Give Swordfish a Break, organizers SeaWeb and the Natural Resources Defense Council, along with other conservation organizations, successfully advocated for recovery measures to restore north Atlantic swordfish. North Atlantic swordfish had been severely depleted after decades of overfishing and mismanagement. The new report is the first assessment of north Atlantic swordfish since those measures, which included reduced international quotas and protection of swordfish nursery areas in the United States, were adopted.
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“This report shows that if we give fish a break, they can recover,” said Lisa Speer, senior policy analyst with NRDC. “This is a real victory for swordfish and shows that we can restore seriously depleted fish.”
“All the participants in the Give Swordfish a Break campaign can feel incredibly proud that their actions helped make the difference for this fish,” said Vikki Spruill, executive director of SeaWeb. “Overfishing and business as usual is not acceptable. This recovery shows that making tough decisions pays off.”
The campaign officially ended in August 2000 when the U.S. government closed nursery areas in U.S. waters, thus meeting the second goal of the campaign. International quota restrictions were adopted in 1999.
Give Swordfish a Break was the first large effort to mobilize chefs and consumers to support stronger fish conservation. Over the course of the campaign, hundreds of chefs signed the Give Swordfish a Break pledge, while others – the Peabody hotel chain, cruise lines, grocery stores, airlines and uncounted others – agreed to remove north Atlantic swordfish from their menus and dining choices.
“When SeaWeb and NRDC first approached me about this campaign, I knew I had to participate,” said Nora Pouillon of Restaurant Nora and Asia Nora in Washington, D.C. “I knew there was a problem just watching swordfish get smaller and smaller in the markets – changes had to be made. It is wonderful that the initial result of these changes are positive, but we need to continue to stay the course. I can’t wait to see the large fish come back.”
“We saw striped bass come back in the 1980’s after we stopped fishing them for a time. Now it’s swordfish,” said Rick Moonen of restaurant RM in New York. “As a restauranteur, I need to make sure my seafood supply is stable into the future. This is a victory for consumers who love seafood and we need more victories like this.”
