Swordfish is a very popular seafood and one of the most abundant types of fish on the West Coast. It is also a primary source of income and way of life for many California families. But recent legal changes at the state and federal levels threaten to wipe out longtime family-owned businesses as well as the entire domestic swordfish supply. The new rules supposedly aim to reduce the number of accidental captures of other animals in the drift gillnets used by swordfish fishermen. However, with plenty of state and federal protections already on the books, the new rules will do little to further protect endangered species. But they will destroy the freedom of responsible fisherman to earn a living. To preserve an industry that’s fed Californians and supported their livelihoods for generations, swordfishing families are fighting back against both levels of government overreach.
Swordfish is one of the most popular types of seafood. It is also a primary source of income for Chris and Dania Williams and a way of life for their entire family. Chris has been a swordfisherman for decades, and husband and wife have been selling their fresh catch at their Ventura market for nearly a decade…