First report of a swordfish (Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758) beneath open-sea farming cages in the Western Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

An adult swordfish (Xiphias gladius L.) was reported for the first time at coastal Mediterranean fish-farm facilities. This record highlights the necessity to assess the potential ecological changes to wild fish assemblages caused by coastal farming activity, especially to this type of endangered large migratory fish predator, which could be taken into account in future management strategies.