Today, the average swordfish caught in the north Atlantic weighs just 90 pounds, compared to over 200 pounds in the 1960s. These small swordfish are caught before they have a chance to reproduce, so the population is in a downward spiral. A new international agreement to reduce the catch of swordfish has been adopted, and the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has implemented new protection for juveniles. We're monitoring these new efforts to let populations recover. While Pacific swordfish are not in such serious trouble, we're concerned about bycatch in this fishery.
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