The swordfish fishery in the Atlantic coast of Portugal and Spain has historically been popular and important to local communities, but overfishing led to decline in swordfish populations. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is meeting to discuss management procedures for swordfish and blue shark fisheries, aiming to promote sustainability and conservation goals. The European Union and its member states must advocate for stricter regulations and monitoring to ensure that the fishing industry in the region follows scientific advice and promotes the health of marine ecosystems.