A researcher specializing in global fisheries suggests that the discovery of a decaying swordfish off the North Coast of British Columbia could be indicative of future occurrences as ocean temperatures increase. The fish was stumbled upon by filmmaker and outdoorsman “Captain” Quinn Barabash during an outing with his oldest son and friends on Sept. 27. A video on his YouTube channel captures his surprise upon learning about the find.
While swordfish sightings in Canadian waters are not unheard of, recent years have seen historically high catches of the animal in Atlantic fisheries. However, they are more commonly found in tropical and temperate waters, especially in the Pacific Ocean. Barabash’s encounter took place off the west coast of Haida Gwaii, where he resides, approximately 800 kilometers northwest of Vancouver. He could only find two other documented sightings of swordfish in British Columbia, both much farther south and closer to the Lower Mainland.
Isabella Morgante, a PhD student at the University of British Columbia’s Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, expressed excitement over the find, describing it as highly unusual and “really cool.” She emphasized that it is increasingly common for tropical species to venture into colder waters along the B.C. coastline to seek refuge from warming oceans. Morgante’s research on the impact of climate change on global fish patterns indicates a noticeable trend of unusual sea creature sightings due to warming oceans.
She mentioned that it is an El Niño year, resulting in higher sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean. However, Morgante highlighted that the shifts in species distribution are more than just seasonal variations but part of an ongoing change that people on the water should be prepared for. Anyone encountering an uncommon sea creature should follow Barabash’s lead by documenting the sighting, noting the location, and sharing the information with researchers for further study.
Barabash, on the other hand, remains enthusiastic about making new discoveries in the ocean, emphasizing its mysterious nature.