| In the Sicilian fisheries, the swordfish (Xiphias gladius, Linnaeus 1758), caught from March to December with several gears which vary according to season, represents one of the most important economic resources. The size composition changes depending on the gear used, the way it is operated, the fishing area and season. The gears used for swordfish fishing (long-lines "for swordfish", drift-nets, harpoons as operated by typical boats named "feluche") mainly catch adult specimens. From August to December, a high number of very young swordfish specimens (1.5 to 4.5 kg) is also caught as by-catch during the albacore (Thunnus alalunga, Bonnaterre 1788) fishing which is carried out by a special long line and hooks only 3 cm long. It was observed that in the... |
