SCARBOROUGH, Maine — A woman known as the nation's only female swordfishing captain will catch fish exclusively for Hannaford.
Linda Greenlaw heads the Hannah Boden, sister ship to the Andrea Gail, the doomed vessel featured in the book and movie The Perfect Storm. Greenlaw and her crew catch swordfish from the Grand Banks in the North Atlantic. "And Hannaford will be bringing her entire catch back to our stores," according to the Hannaford website.
Greenlaw is featured in Discovery Channel series "Swords: Life on the Line." She is also author of several books, including All Fisherman are Liars.
"I applaud Hannaford in supporting local fishermen, processors and the working waterfront," Greenlaw writes in a column on Hannaford.com.
Hannaford's work with Greenlaw is part of its partnership with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute to create a plan for carrying only traceable and sustainably harvested seafood in its stores. It plans to have 100% compliance by early 2011.
"Sustainability is of the utmost importance to me for many reasons," Greenlaw states. "I like to know that I'm responsible in what I'm doing and to know there's going to be a future in swordfishing."
One of the most significant changes in the swordfishing industry is the use of the circle hook. The design minimizes the interaction with non-targeted species because it hooks in the corner of the mouth, allowing for easy live release of juvenile fish. The hook is mandated by U.S. law.
