Swords: Life on the Line

Viewers who know anything about commercial swordfishing have probably heard that it’s demanding and dangerous. But because the crews typically work far out at sea, few people have actually seen them on the job. The cameras here stay with the crews for the duration, showing the long days, the dangerous conditions, and the brutal, exhausting labor. The show also captures the excitement when a crew lands an enormous swordfish or giant tuna, with the men glowing with professional excitement and the knowledge that each pound of fish adds to their paychecks when they finally get back to port.

One angle the show ignores, for the most part, is the environmental impact of the profession. Though not officially considered endangered, many activists assert that swordfish are in danger of being overfished, a notion that’s hard to juxtapose with images of crew members high-fiving each other after landing a 150-pounder. The fishermen rarely discuss whether their profession could be contributing to a problem and instead are eager to catch as many as they can. But the Discovery Channel does add teasers encouraging viewers to visit its website for more details on the controversial issue.