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The study presented by Guillermo Morán Borja, Juan Carlos Quiroz, Leonel Caicedo, and Guillermo Morán Velásquez offers a detailed technical characterization of Ecuador’s industrial longline fleet targeting swordfish (Xiphias gladius).

What Is Swordfish.Ec?

Swordfish.Ec is a Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) led by Ecuadorian exporting companies, in alliance with WWF Ecuador. Its main objective is to align Ecuador’s swordfish fishery with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) sustainability standards.

This FIP operates under a collaborative approach involving both the public and private sectors, focusing on four key pillars:

1. Strengthening resource management through population studies and conservation measures.
2. Reducing bycatch via improved fishing gear and protocols.
3. Implementing scientific monitoring and traceability.
4. Providing training and enhancing governance in collaboration with fisheries authorities.

Why Does This Matter for Ecuador?

• Ecuador ranks among the world’s top swordfish exporters.
• The FIP aims to prepare the fishery to meet MSC certification standards, enhancing market confidence.
• Advancing toward MSC certification reinforces Ecuador’s position in international markets.

Sector Commitment and Monitoring Efforts

The private sector recognizes that ensuring swordfish sustainability is vital for long-term market access. Initiatives like Swordfish.Ec contribute to strengthening scientific monitoring and data collection systems.

This study is based on operations of four longline vessels operated by TRANSMARINA, which have maintained a voluntary onboard observer program for three consecutive years.

Economic Contributions

Manta is the primary port for industrial swordfish landings in Ecuador.

• Export earnings range between USD 80 million and USD 140 million annually, depending on market prices.
• Export volumes range from 8,000 to 10,000 tons per year of fresh and frozen swordfish products, mainly destined for the U.S., Spain, and Portugal.

Swordfish Status in the Eastern Pacific

According to the IATTC’s 2023 assessment, swordfish in the Eastern Pacific is not overfished, and its spawning biomass exceeds the Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) threshold.
However, environmental challenges remain, particularly regarding the need for best practices to reduce incidental mortality of sea turtles and certain endangered shark species.

Objectives of This Study

• Provide data for IATTC’s baseline population studies on swordfish.
• Analyze the structure and operational dynamics of Ecuador’s large-scale industrial longline fleet.
• Identify operational patterns, challenges, and trends to propose sustainable management strategies.

Fishing Gear and Operational Details

Fleet Composition:

• Industrial steel longliners exceeding 25 meters in length, designed for pelagic fishing.
• Nine active vessels (ranging from 40 to 60 meters), equipped with freezing systems (-60°C) and capable of operating for up to 120 days at sea.
• Average crew: 20 people per vessel.

Longline Gear Configuration:

• Mainline diameter: 3–4 mm, extending 60 to 75 nautical miles.
• Around 2,200 branch lines (reinales) per set, divided into three sections:
  • Upper section: 15–20 m, weighted with 30–60 g sinkers.
  • Middle section: 5–9 m connectors.
  • Lower section: 0.5–1.5 m monofilament with baited hooks.
• Hook spacing: 36–76 meters, targeting depths of 40 to 55 meters.
• Hooks used: J#10 models, with bait including Auxis thazard (frigate tuna), Scomber japonicus (mackerel), and Auxis rochei.

Fishing Operations:

• Sets are deployed in the afternoon or at night (lasting 8–10 hours) and retrieved early in the morning (taking 10–12 hours).
• Fishing is conducted year-round, with high-effort periods from August to December.
• Main fishing grounds are located east of 125°W in the Pacific, overlapping the IATTC-WCPFC management zones.

Catch Monitoring and Data Collection

Since 2022, Swordfish.Ec has maintained a voluntary onboard observer program on four industrial longliners, collecting data aligned with IATTC protocols, covering:

• Fishing effort (hooks, mainline length, soak time).
• Target and bycatch species (including sharks, turtles, and rays).
• Geographic and oceanographic conditions.
• Bycatch release methods and survival rates.

From 2022 to 2024, observers monitored 1,335 longline sets. The average number of hooks per set was around 1,967, with no significant differences among vessels.

Catch Composition and Trends

• Swordfish accounted for 69.7% of total catch, confirming its primary target status.
• Sharks made up 28.4% of the catch, with blue shark (Prionace glauca) being the most common (15% of total catch).
• Incidental catches of turtles and rays were recorded at lower frequencies.

Catch, Effort, and CPUE

Between 2022 and 2024, the monitored vessels caught 1,982 metric tons of swordfish, deploying around 2.6 million hooks in 1,345 sets.
Catch per unit effort (CPUE):

• 0.752 tons per 1,000 hooks.
• 0.361 tons per hour of soaking time.

Spatial and Seasonal Fishing Patterns

Fishing activities concentrated around the equator (0° latitude), particularly between 93°W and 120°W.
High-yield fishing areas were observed between 95°W and 110°W and 0° to 10°N, with some sets exceeding 4 or 5 tons per haul.

Seasonal patterns indicated a shift westward during certain months, with higher catches observed between August and December, likely influenced by favorable oceanographic conditions or increased fishing effort.

Summary

Swordfish.Ec continues to provide critical scientific data that strengthens fisheries management in Ecuador and contributes directly to IATTC stock assessments. The project is a clear example of collaboration between industry, science, and government, aiming for long-term sustainability of the swordfish fishery.

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