Common Name
Swordfish
Scientific Name
Xiphias gladius
The EU surface longline fleet has been concentrating efforts on the implementation of national and regional strategies for the conservation of their target species including measures such as minimizing incidental catches, collaborating with the scientific community, and finning bans.
In 2014, an MSC pre-assessment was conducted for all swordfish and blue shark stocks, and in 2016, the fishery was close to meeting the MSC standard for north and south Atlantic swordfish. Focus on improvements for all the fleet operations moved towards promoting the creation of a FIP for all swordfish (Xiphias gladius ) and blue shark (Prionace glauca ) stocks for the North and South Atlantic Ocean, the Western and Central Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.
The industry community created the ANECTEAM association to work together with the EU surface longline fleet. ANECTEAM is focused on getting visibility and recognition from the consumers, raising public and environmental NGO opinions about efforts to boost sustainability, encouraging distribution chains to purchase the fishery's products, and increasing recognition at the international level of a sustainable industry and fleet that is allowed to trade in fins and shark meat. This FIP represents 4 shipowners' associations (90 % catches EU fleet), 12 supply chain companies (80 % UE), and 124 fishing vessels (95% of EU fishing vessels in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans).FIP BLUES - FIP BLUES
Due to their migratory nature and extensive distribution throughout several oceans, the management of swordfish and blue shark is carried out internationally by RFMOs (ICCAT, IOTC, IATTC, and WCPFC) through a system of catch totals (TAC).
In 2014 an MSC pre-assessment was conducted for all swordfish and blue shark stocks (5 stocks in different ocean´s). In 2016, the fishery was close to meeting the MSC standard for north and south Atlantic swordfish. Previously conducted, the scoring was updated in 2019.
The FIP Blues has been originally designed to be implemented in three oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian. The present FIP will start by implementing the actions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
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To address all of the fishery’s environmental challenges necessary to achieve a level of performance consistent with an unconditional pass of the Marine Stewardship Council Fisheries Standard for target species swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in Eastern Pacific Ocean by December 2030.
