Sustainable swordfish & marlin buying guide
Swordfish and marlin may look like they’re related, but they’re not. Swordfish are in the Xiphias family, and marlins are in the Istiophoridae family. However, they share many similarities. They slash their long bills to slow and capture prey, and these speedy, powerful predators are also prized game fish. Another similarity is a lot of the global catch is considered unsustainable by Seafood Watch standards or hasn’t been evaluated for sustainability. Consumers can find environmentally sustainable or friendly options, but it’s important to know what to buy and what to avoid.
Quick buying guide
- Buy swordfish caught by U.S. fisheries.
- Buy swordfish caught in the Pacific that’s labeled pole-caught or pole-&-lines.
- Buy swordfish caught in the Atlantic that’s labeled harpoon-caught, pole-caught, pole-&-lines, or troll-caught.
- Buy blue marlin caught by U.S. fisheries.
- Buy Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified swordfish.
- Avoid all other imported swordfish.
- Avoid all other marlin.
What to buy or avoid?
Swordfish
Swordfish populations are healthy in the North Pacific and are unlikely to be depleted or experiencing overfishing in the South Pacific. In the Atlantic, populations are generally healthy in the North Atlantic, but they're depleted and experiencing overfishing in the South Atlantic. Swordfish in the Indian Ocean are considered healthy, but these fisheries are red-rated due to bycatch and ineffective management. Swordfish is sometimes sold as broadbill, espada, or emperador.
- Buy swordfish caught by U.S. fisheries. Swordfish is green-rated when caught in Hawai‘i or labeled buoy gear, harpoon-caught, pole-caught, or pole-&-lines. All other U.S. sources are yellow-rated.
- Buy swordfish caught in the Pacific that’s labeled pole-caught or pole-&-lines.
- Buy swordfish caught in the Atlantic that’s labeled harpoon-caught, pole-caught, pole-&-lines, or troll-caught.
- Avoid all other imported swordfish.
© Scandposters
Marlin
We have recommendations for three species of marlin caught in the Pacific Ocean: blue, black, and striped. The blue marlin stock is likely healthy, while black marlin’s status is unknown. In the North Pacific, the striped marlin stock is depleted and experiencing overfishing, whereas the South Pacific stock was last assessed in 2017 and showed low abundance, though overfishing wasn’t occurring.
- Buy blue marlin caught by U.S. fisheries.
- Avoid black and striped marlins caught by U.S. fisheries.
- Avoid imported marlin.
Certified swordfish
- Buy Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified swordfish.
View certified swordfish recommendations on SeafoodWatch.org
Sushi
Seafood Watch’s recommendations note the following sushi names, but there are others for the different marlin species.
- Marlin: Kajiki
- Swordfish: Kajiki Maguro or Mekajiki
Follow the above tips and check the Seafood Watch Sushi Guide for quick reference.
More about our swordfish and marlin recommendations
When are swordfish and marlin environmentally sustainable?
Swordfish and marlin rated green by Seafood Watch are the most environmentally sustainable because they come from healthy populations, and there's minimal to no impact on other marine life and habitats.
Swordfish and marlin rated yellow mean fishery management is considered moderately effective, but bycatch impacts are significant. In some cases, bycatch isn't the issue, but there are concerns that the stock is overfished or being harvested at unsustainable levels.
Swordfish and marlin rated red by Seafood Watch are not environmentally sustainable because there are two or more significant concerns, such as depleted populations, overfishing, bycatch impacts, or ineffective management.
What are the main swordfish and marlin fishing methods?
Swordfish and marlin rated green by Seafood Watch are the most environmentally sustainable because they come from healthy populations, and there's minimal to no impact on other marine life and habitats.
Swordfish and marlin rated yellow mean fishery management is considered moderately effective, but bycatch impacts are significant. In some cases, bycatch isn't the issue, but there are concerns that the stock is overfished or being harvested at unsustainable levels.
Swordfish and marlin rated red by Seafood Watch are not environmentally sustainable because there are two or more significant concerns, such as depleted populations, overfishing, bycatch impacts, or ineffective management.
Here’s a quick look at these fishing methods:
- Drifting longlines have a mainline supported by floats and evenly spaced branch lines with baited hooks. They can be up to 50 miles long and have thousands of baited hooks.
- Drift gillnets are long nets that drift with the current. Swordfish are entangled when they swim into the netting.
- Buoy gear is used to catch swordfish. They consist of one to three lines with baited hooks that are attached to a free-floating buoy. Fishermen set 10 to 15 buoys in a straight line and watch for the signs that swordfish have been hooked.
- Harpoons are spear-like gears with a detachable sharp point (with one or more barbs) attached to a retrieving line. When fishermen target a fish, they thrust or shoot the harpoon into the animal and haul it aboard. Modern harpoons are shot with guns.
- Trolling lines or handlines and hand-operated pole-&-lines catch swordfish with one or more fishing lines with baited hooks.
How to use this guide
Our green, yellow, and red ratings indicate environmental risk. We use our ratings and third-party certifications to make our recommendations.
Choose
- Green-rated seafood because environmental risks are low.
- Yellow-rated seafood because environmental risks are moderate.
Avoid
- Red-rated seafood because environmental risks are high, often due to overfishing, poor management, or harm to marine life and habitats.
Where to find sustainable seafood
When shopping or dining out, start by asking, “Do you sell sustainable seafood?” You may need to ask what species it is and where and how it was caught or farmed. If the business can’t answer or the label doesn’t provide this information, our Popular Seafood Guide can help you choose another ocean-friendly option.
More retailers and restaurants are sharing where their seafood comes from and how it was caught. But not all businesses have this information. When you ask questions, you help create demand for sustainable seafood and encourage businesses to offer it.
Grocery stores
We work with grocery stores to implement time-bound commitments to follow Seafood Watch recommendations. MOM’s Organic Market and PCC Community Markets follow our recommendations. Whole Foods Market follows our recommendations for wild seafood and has a proprietary standard for farmed seafood.
Restaurants
We work with major restaurant chains—including California Fish Grill and The Cheesecake Factory—that are implementing their sustainable seafood commitments.
Meal delivery services
Blue Apron and Hello Fresh only send their customers green-rated, yellow-rated, or certified seafood. Other meal delivery services may offer sustainable seafood, and we encourage you to ask them if they don’t.
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