Swordfish sighting on Haida Gwaii highlights warming waters
Swordfish sighting in B.C. signals warming oceans and shifting marine life See why this rare Haida Gwaii find matters for scientists tracking change
A decaying swordfish found off Haida Gwaii in British Columbia is drawing attention because the species is uncommon in the region, though experts say such sightings are becoming more plausible as oceans warm.
Filmmaker and outdoorsman Quinn Barabash discovered the roughly twometre carcass on Sept. 27 while out on the water with family and friends. He later shared the find online, where it stood out as one of the more unusual encounters he has had off B.C.’s North Coast.
Isabella Morgante, a University of British Columbia fisheries researcher, said the sighting fits a broader pattern of marine species moving into cooler waters as sea temperatures rise. She added that unusual observations like this are worth documenting because they can help scientists track changes in species distribution.