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MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING CENTER

Brigantine Island, NJ

NEW JERSEY MARITIME MUSEUM

Long Beach Island, NJ

~REVIEWS~

ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE

AWI Quarterly 

Fall 2022

Page 27

...This is, at its heart, a book about fishing, similar at first glance to episodes of Deadliest Catch in its descriptions of life on board a commercial fishing vessel. What sets it apart is the author's abundantly evident concern for the future of this awe-inspiring species, one of the largest ocean predators. ... the beauty and strength of the broadbill swordfish...

In addition to his descriptions of Xiphias gladius, the author writes with emotion and wonder about other large, highly migratory marine species, including sharks, tuna, and whales. He holds nothing back in his description of the brutality of the longline hunt, and his condemnation of the industrialized modern fishing technologies that have decimated wild fish populations for decades.  

The book is an expansion of Armbruster's 2002 volume, The Crimson Broadbill:Commercial Swordfishing the NW Atlantic. The author brings that book's observations on overfishing and the state of the oceans up to date, however, by including an annex with updated research and identification of new and growing threats to marine life...  noting that the future of the ocean and marine life is the responsibility of us all. 

Reviewed in the UK December 2021

...I am never keen on reviewing books written about subjects that I have no first-hand knowledge of.  I once spent a short time on a long liner, but it was as an investigating shark conservationist, and this meant I was viewed with suspicion, and only shown what the crew wanted me to see.  So, when I was asked to write a review of ‘The Swordfish Hunters’ I asked my friend Ian Emby, the British jazz, rock, and blues guitarist, to read it and advise because I knew he had crewed on long liners.

He gave the book a clean bill of health, and said it was spot on.  I then read it knowing that it was authentic and much enjoyed it.  It reads like a novel, but is a personal first-hand account of life on a “sword boat”.  It is insightful and contains real and valuable information cover to cover.  If you want to experience life at sea on a long liner without, so to speak, getting wet, then read this book.  Recommended. 

Richard Peirce (Author, Broadcaster, Campaigner)



Reviewed in the United States December 2021 

...I just finished reading the SWORDFISH HUNTERS by Dr. Armbruster.  The book was given to me by a colleague who is an avid fisherman.  I have an affinity for adventure stories and tales from the sea.  This book was a combination of both.  Armbruster has a whimsical writing style and knack for story telling which keeps the reader anxious to get to the next page.  There is a perfect three-way balance between "tongue in cheek" humor, education on marine life and devotion to conservancy that Dr. Armbruster displays throughout the book.  Many books about the conservation and education of our natural world are painfully dry.  This is not one of them. I highly recommend this book.

AMAZON 5.0 out of 5 stars Informative about the lifeline of the Swordfish

Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2021

Verified Purchase

...Well written Easy to follow and understand

 

AMAZON 5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, informative and fun book to read

Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2021

Verified Purchase

...The Swordfish Hunters is a thoroughly enjoyable and readable book !
The book is both a compelling personal story of Dr. Tom Armbruster’s adventures working on a commercial fishing boat for one summer during college and a fascinating, informative treatise on swordfish and the impact that commercial fishing and over fishing in general, is having on their survival, and long term prospects.
This is a wonderfully entertaining book that’s suitable for readers of all ages. I strongly recommend.