The Recovery of Atlantic Swordfish: The Comparative Roles of the Regional Fisheries Management Organization and Species Biology

Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMO) are often criticized for ineffectual management of high-seas fisheries resources. However, in the case of the two Atlantic swordfish stocks occurring in the North and South Atlantic, those stocks have rebuilt to the BMSY objective of the responsible RFMO, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The relative contribution of the management actions of the RFMO and biological characteristics of swordfish stocks are evaluated in relation to the recovery of the stocks. It is concluded that while swordfish have characteristics that promote stock resilience (including relatively fast growth, and spatially- and temporally-dispersed spawning), positive management actions combined with a period of relatively good recruitment were essential to achieve the rebuilt outcome. The challenges that the RFMO faces to maintain the stocks in the rebuilt condition are described, and some possible additional measures discussed.