DONATE
Back to Fish4Life Project
Help improve Fish4Life

Fish4Life provides everything you need to enjoy seafood responsibly. Explore information and practical tips for safe and sustainable seafood consumption, and help protect marine life by reporting undersized or illegally traded seafood.

Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
Ξιφίας

Sustainability Status

Overexploited and high levels of Mercury

REPORT IT
Help us protect our seas by reporting illegal or undersized fish that you see in markets, restaurants or fishing boats
Fishstocks – Declining due to overexploitation
Bad choice –Consumption of this species is unsustainable
Health concerns –Can accumulate dangerously high levels of toxic substances harmful to health

Legal

Minimum Size

100 cm (excluding the sword) or 10 kg (live weight)

Prohibited Consumption Period

January – March and October – November only for long line vessels

Sustainable

Minimum Size

145 cm (excluding the sword)

Avoid Consumption Period

Year round

Advice for Consumption

Do Not Consume.

This species is severely overexploited. Choosing not to purchase or consume it is essential to support the recovery and long-term sustainability of its populations.

International and Greek legislation fail to take the biology of this species into account, setting a legal minimum size that is considerably smaller than the scientifically recommended sustainable size and failing to establish a closed season, leaving both juvenile and spawning fish completely unprotected.

If you choose to consume this species, always respect the scientifically recommended sustainable minimum size.

Archipelagos Tips

Many international public health authorities advise limiting the consumption of swordfish because it bioaccumulates methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin associated with significant health risks.

Common names

FR

Espadon

it

Pesce spada

es

Pez espada

tr

Kılıç balığı

pt

Espadarte

nl

Zwaardvis

de

Schwertfisch

toxicity

This species can bioaccumulate high level of heavy metal.

iucn info

Near threatened (NT)

Description

Blackish-brown fading to light-brown below. A long, flat, sword-like bill and no pelvic fins. Elongated bodyshape. Adults have two widely separated dorsal and anal fins, and a crescent-shaped caudal (tail) fin. Pelvic fins are absent in adults.

It looks like marlins and sailfish they have a more rounded, spear-like rostrum and possess a long dorsal fin that runs most of the length of their body, resembling a sail. While all have a bill, Xiphias gladius is flat and sword-like, while marlins and sailfish have a more rounded, spear-like bill.

Did you know?

They have a muscle in their eyes that allows them to heat their brains and eyes making it possible for them to see their prey and think clearly in colder waters!

Ecological Aspects

Diet

Opportunistic feeders.
Primary diet consists of fish but also will consume crustaceans and squids.

habitat

Pelagic-oceanic.
Travels through open ocean but occasionally seen in coastal waters.

Max size & depth range

Max length: 455 cm
Max weight: 650 kg
Depth range: 0-2878 m

breeding & Growth

Gonochoric (separate sexes).
Batch spawners, spawning occurs in the Atlantic during spring.
Growth rate: Slow (k= 0.13yr⁻¹).

Longevity & presence

Lifespan: 9-15 years
Max reported age: 16 years
Distribution: Indian, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans. Migrates between tropical and temperate waters.

appearance changes

Females grow faster than males.

Reproductive Cycle

Egg count seasonally: 17.5 million
Reproduction frequency: Numerous times throughout the season.
Facebook Youtube Instagram

Help improve Fish4Life!

How did you find Fish4Life?
Is there anything you would improve?
Is there anything else you would like us to add?

Thank you for your contribution. This project is built for the public and should be shaped by its community. We welcome your comments and any information you feel is important to include.

Spotted illegal or undersized seafood? Report it!

Upload a Photo
Date & Location
Where did you spot it?
Please let us know where
What is the name of the business or fishing vessel selling the seafood?
Description:
Additional information (optional)

Your contribution helps us document illegal and unsustainable fishing practices and protect our seas.

If you’d like to learn more about the work of the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation, please visit our website: https://archipelago.gr/

Good choice – Consumption of this species is currently considered sustainable

Illegal species – Fishing, selling and consumption of this species is illegal

Fishstocks – Declining due to overexploitation

Think before you eat – This species faces increasing pressures and should only be consumed responsibly

Bad choice – Consumption of this species is unsustainable

Health concerns –
Can accumulate dangerously high levels of toxic substances harmful to health

Alien / Invasive – This species is not from this region and can have a negative impact on the ecosystem and threaten local biodiversity, so it is sustainable to eat

Aquafarms – You will commonly find this species coming from aquafarms