The swordfish is considered one of the fastest fish in the ocean, and it is the only member of the family of swordfish, and the swordfish is one of the closest relatives of the sailfish and the marlin, and it is a famous sports fish thanks to its strong
body and speed, and the swordfish is one of the fish that can be easily identified from Through its long, pointed, sword-like beak, which helps it penetrate the water and defend itself from other predators, and we have many secrets and facts about the fastest ocean fish, the swordfish, let's go.
Home and habitat of the swordfish
This fish is a pelagic fish, which means that it usually lives in open waters, and prefers temperate and tropical regions where the water ranges between 17 and 22 degrees Celsius, however, it can withstand temperatures from 5 to 27 degrees Celsius, and the swordfish migrates long distances
It moves to cooler areas to feed during the summer and warmer areas during the winter, and during the day, and ranges from surface level to depths of approximately 9,442 feet below sea level.
And you can find it all over the world except for very cold regions such as the Arctic or the southern oceans, and the swordfish range extends throughout the tropical and temperate parts of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, and in
the Atlantic Ocean, the swordfish is distributed between Newfoundland and southern Brazil, Meanwhile in the Pacific Ocean, its range extends as far north as Japan and the southern tip of New Zealand.
Swordfish diet and order
The swordfish feeds mainly on small bony fishes and cephalopods, feeding opportunistically in the water up and down the water, feeding on the surface, and on the ocean floor.
The night is near the surface when small fish are most abundant, and its diet consists of various species of fish including mackerel, rockfish, herring, and lanternfish, as well as squid and crustaceans.
Contrary to popular belief, the swordfish does not use its beak to kill its prey with a spear, however, it may sometimes use it to weaken its prey with cuts or blows, and they rely mostly on their strength and
speed when hunting, and they can swim up to 60 miles per hour, and often eat their prey entirely, because they They lack teeth.
Threats facing swordfish
In general, adults have no natural predators with the exception of orcas and humans, however, some large predators will occasionally attempt to prey on swordfish, shortfin mako often attempt
to prey on swordfish, but swordfish are usually more than Just an analogue with these fast sharks.
Many predatory fish target juvenile swordfish, including sharks, tuna, marlin, and sailfish. In addition to predators, they must They also have to deal with a host of nasty parasites. Scientists have documented nearly 50 different parasites in swordfish.
These parasites include parasitic fish like remora and lamprey as well as small invertebrates like tapeworms, roundworms and copepods.
Swordfish in fishing and cooking
In recent years, swordfish's popularity in cooking has declined due to restrictions on hunting and coordination of conservation campaigns.Swordfish is incredibly meaty and is usually served in fillet forms.
The meat, this makes it ideal for cooking on the grill or on skewers, as the meat retains its texture well under high heat.
In addition, many people enjoy cooking it in stews or baking it in the oven.
The meat has a mild, slightly sweet taste that pairs well with many types of Sauces and marinades, however, since they contain a high percentage of mercury, health authorities encourage people not to overeat, especially young people or pregnant women.
Save the swordfish
During the mid-twentieth century, the population experienced a significant decline, and between 1960 and 1998, the stock of swordfish in
the Atlantic Ocean declined by about 68 percent, as did the average size of the fish caught. In response, they came under increased scrutiny by groups Conservation at the end of the 20th century, these groups began with coordinated advertising efforts such.
Thanks to these efforts, many restaurants stopped serving swordfish, sales in supermarkets decreased, and the US government also carved out 100,000 square miles in the Atlantic Ocean that were off-limits to swordfish fishermen.
As a result, swordfish numbers have returned. North Atlantic is back to record levels, and there is insufficient data on stocks in the South Atlantic and Northwest Pacific.
In addition, evidence indicates that swordfish in the Indian Ocean and Southwest Pacific are likely to decline.
Therefore, the official assessment of swordfish Swordfish by the IUCN are mixed, with some groups listed as Least Concern while others are listed as Near Threatened.
Is swordfish threatened with extinction
Swordfish is caught by commercial and recreational fishermen.
Fisheries are found in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
It is a popular fish and seafood although expectant mothers, pregnant women, and young children may want to limit consumption due to its potentially high methylmercury content.
Swordfish is included It is recognized as least of concern on the IUCN Red List as many swordfish stocks (except those in the Mediterranean) are stable, are being reconstructed or appropriately managed.