Fishermen bring in a longline during a commercial fishing trip for swordfish in the Atlantic Ocean. There are conflicting arguments as to the health of the North Atlantic Broadbill swordfish (Xiphias gladius) populations. On one hand it has been claimed that conservation efforts have seen fish stock make a strong recovery so that it is now considered a sustainable fish. The counter argument is that not only are these figures inaccurate, but much of the data has been fabricated by vested interests. The fish is caught using long line and harpoon methods. The minimum size for a fish to be kept is 41lbs (18.5kgs) but the damage inflicted by longlines means that most fish released back into the sea is dead or will die. Furthermore, the average size of fish caught commercially has declined from 266lbs (120.5kgs) in 1961 to 88lbs (40kgs) today. In 2012 1,485 tonnes of fish were landed in Canada with an export value (100% of Canadian catch is shipped to the USA) of 10.6 million USD.