CHARACTERIZATION OF THE WHITE MARLIN (TETRAPTURUS ALBIDUS) RECREATIONAL FISHERY OFF MARYLAND AND NEW JERSEY

摘要

The white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus Poey, 1860) is an oceanodromous species that is endemic to the Atlantic Ocean. It makes seasonal ventures into higher latitudes during warm seasons, which are thought to be associated with feeding or reproduction (Mather et al., 1975). The species is one of 30 that are termed Highly Migratory Species (HMS) (as listed in Annex I of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and present numerous challenges for fishery scientists and managers. White marlin are sought by recreational anglers but are unintentionally harvested by domestic and international commercial longline fishers targeting tuna (Thunnus spp.) and swordfish (Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758) (Uozumi, 2003; Serafy et al., 2004). To implement conservation measures, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) approved the first Atlantic billfish fishery management plan (FMP) in 1988, which effectively reserved directed fishing effort to the recreational fishing sector (NMFS, 1988). A summary of domestic and international conservation measures for white marlin can be found in NMFS (2006). Despite voluntary conservation measures, mandated minimum size limits, and wide acceptance of catch-and-release, white marlin is currently considered to be severely overfished with overfishing continuing. To reduce fishing mortality, NMFS has identified preferred alternatives for implementation; one of these alternatives requires anglers fishing from HMS-permitted vessels and participating in billfish tournaments to use only non-offset circle hooks when deploying natural bait or natural bait/artificial lure combinations (NMFS, 2006). Circle hooks are defined in 50 CFR S635.2 as "a fishing hook originally designed and manufactured so that the point is turned perpendicularly back to the shank to form a generally circular, or oval, shape."