Alastair Macleod 
The Swordfish Wars 

As fishing stocks dwindle the fight for the resources of the sea has become a war in areas where terrorism has taken root.

‘In 2012, against conservation rules, two large non-Mediterranean fleets were  spotted in some of the main Mediterranean fishing grounds. The substantial presence of irregular foreign vessels in the Mediterranean, added to an evident decrease in the control zeal of nations involved in this fishery, is a reminder of the situation created by recent conflict in Libya.

One of the fleets consisted of several Chinese ships (none of which is authorized to fish here), with the other comprised of several ships of unknown registry.
The Chinese fleet entered the Mediterranean via the Suez canal, leaving the region via the Straights of Gibraltar  reportedly heading to Mauritania.
The second fleet  refused to respond to attempts to communicate. The high prices paid for swordfish and  tuna in the Japanese market mean that quota levels are continually not set low enough to allow the fish to recover, as well meaning that there is extensive illegal fishing going on. Single fish can sell for over $100, 000. adapted from ‘ treehugger.’