An advisory body responsible for managing fishing in U.S. waters in the Western Pacific has voted to lift a restriction on swordfish fishing.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council says swordfish stocks are at healthy levels and measures to minimize the danger to sea turtles have been effective.

Paul Dalzell, a senior scientist with the council, says fewer turtles are getting caught in the lines used to fish for swordfish since anglers switched to using different bait and hooks.

Dalzell says the number of times fishermen could deploy their line for swordfish was limited under the restriction, which kept swordfish fishing to about half its historical level.

The U.S. Secretary of Commerce still must approve the council's vote.