Swordfish Distribution. The majority of them though are found in the Pacific Ocean. The Swordfish is found in oceans around the world. Of the subpopulations of fishes evaluated by the IUCN, 24 species subpopulations have been assessed as endangered. Swordfish are elongated, round-bodied, and lose all teeth and scales by adulthood. Here is a list of some especially endangered seafood along with some sustainable alternatives. There are some exceptions noted, as well, in which an otherwise threatened fish is being caught sustainably somewhere. Swordfish feed on a variety of fish and invertebrates such as squid. 01 of 06. Swordfish is not listed as an endangered species. The report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists 32,000 species as threatened with extinction, including the European hamster and North Atlantic right whale. Most swordfish are caught with longlines, which have high bycatch of juvenile billfish, sea turtles, seabirds and sharks. Swordfish reach sexual maturity between 5-6 years of age and live up to 9 years. As of September 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists 643 endangered fish species. Limit your intake of white tuna (also known as albacore) to less than 6 ounces per week. Sue Flood/The Image Bank/Getty Images. Bluefin Tuna . Swordfish have been observed spawning in the Atlantic ocean at 75 m deep. Swordfish are productive, and their eggs are fertilized externally and float at the sea surface where they incubate for about 2 1/2 days. They are a popular sport fish of the billfish category, though elusive. [1] In 1998, the Natural Resources Defense Council and SeaWeb hired Fenton Communications to conduct an advertising campaign to promote their assertion that the swordfish population was in … Swordfish (Xiphias gladius), also known as broadbills in some countries, are large, highly migratory, predatory fish characterized by a long, flat, pointed bill. They capture their prey by slashing their bills back and forth, stunning or injuring the prey in the process. It is possible but for now swordfish are not listed as an endangered species. They tend to migrate a great deal in order to find food and to be able to stay in warmer areas of water. Swordfish are caught on longlines that also catch endangered wildlife, such as turtles, seabirds, whales and dolphins. They tend to stick to areas of the water that are warmer. To reduce the risk of mercury contamination, avoid eating swordfish, shark, tilefish and king mackerel altogether. Little is known about the reproductive behavior of swordfish except that spawning tends to occur in warmer waters year round and during the spring and summer months in cooler regions. The IUCN also lists ten fish subspecies as endangered. Swordfish live for about 9 years. Swordfish, known scientifically as Xiphias gladius, are not endangered. 4.2% of all evaluated fish species are listed as endangered. 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