Swordfish fishing is prohibited for all fishing units in Tunisia from January 1 to March 31, according to a decree issued by the Minister of Agriculture, Hydraulic Resources, and Maritime Fishing, published on Friday, December 27, 2024, in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Tunisia (JORT).
The ban applies to specimens measuring less than 100 cm lower jaw fork length (LJFL) or, alternatively, weighing less than 11.4 kg live weight or 10.2 kg gutted and gill-free weight, as specified by the ministry.
However, as an exception, the landing of swordfish specimens below these sizes is permitted, provided it does not exceed 5% of the total swordfish catch by weight or number of specimens.
Fishing units using longlines and targeting swordfish must adhere to specific technical requirements, such as a maximum of 2,500 hooks per vessel and a minimum hook size of 7 cm in height. Additionally, bait must consist exclusively of finfish.
In cases of accidental catch, the ministry emphasizes that the limit of 20% (by weight or number of specimens) of total pelagic species catch must not be exceeded outside the restricted fishing period.
Overfishing has severely impacted swordfish populations, leading to their classification as “Near Threatened” for the Mediterranean by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on its Red List.
Source: La presse
