2017 Recreational Billfish Landings Posted

The National Marine Fisheries Service this week released its fourth quarter update on 2017 recreational billfish landings, rounding out landing estimates for the year. These landing numbers come from a variety of sources including self-reported angler reports from the Highly Migratory Species (HMS) non-Tournament Recreational Swordfish and Billfish Landings Database, as well as tournament landings from the Atlantic Tournament Registration and Reporting system, catch card reports from North Carolina and Maryland, and individual billfish intercepted by the Large Pelagic Survey and Marine Recreational Information Program. Estimates may change due to late reporting. The U.S. recreational billfish fishery is limited
SAFMC Takes Action On Longline Research

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) considered over 600 written comments and heard public testimony last week, before voting to send a letter to NOAA Fisheries expressing their concerns on an Exempted Fishery Permit (EFP) request to conduct research and evaluate pelagic longline catch rates in a portion of an area off the east coast of Florida currently closed to longline fishing. The majority of the comments received, including those from recreational fishing organizations, were in opposition to the permit, citing concerns about discards of recreational and commercially important species, impacts to protected resources, increased landings of dolphin fish
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna General Fishery Closes Until June
The National Marine Fisheries Service transferred 10 metric tons (2,2046 pounds) of Atlantic bluefin tuna quota from the Reserve category to the General January sub-category, until that quota is landed or March 31. The agency anticipates that transferred quota will be landed by March 2, 2018, after which vessels in the General Category and HMS Charter/Headboat Category must cease retaining, possessing, or landing large-medium or giant bluefin tunas. The entire General Category will remain closed until June 1, 2018, at which time 233.3 metric tons (514,338 pounds) will be available through
Tag & Release Competition Winners Honored At Ceremony
The Billfish Foundation’s (TBF) Tag and Release Award winners, the “Who’s Who” in the billfishing world, were honored during the International Tag and Release Awards Ceremony at Miami’s Jungle Island on February 16, 2018. Over 40 award winners from all over the world – from as far away as the Seychelles Islands, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, France, and Gabon – came to be recognized as some of the top anglers, captains and mates for tagging and releasing the most billfish in our competition year. Earning one of these prestigious awards, produced and donated by King Sailfish Mounts, symbolizes a year
Tell Policymakers to Keep Longlines Out of Conservation Zone
Note: the SAFMC public comment period ended on the day of the meeting, March 7, 2018. More comment periods will be coming, stay up to date by subscribing to our newsletter. The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) is accepting public comments on the possibility of the federal government issuing a second Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) to allow pelagic longline research inside the closed zone of Florida’s east coast. The first federally issued permit for the research was invalidated in December 2017 when Nova Southeastern University (NSU) withdrew as a research partner. The NSU scientist remains as the principal
Awards Ceremony – 2017 Tag & Release Competition
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Longline Research Permit Officially Announced Invalid
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) finally announced as “invalid” the Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) issued last year to a Nova Southeastern University (NSU) scientist granting permission to longline within the 16-year closed conservation zone off the east coast of Florida. The research was halted by the NSU president after The Billfish Foundation (TBF) informed him of potential negative impacts to the university’s reputation. As TBF reported in January, the same scientist submitted a second EFP application, but only yesterday did the NMFS clarify the application is identical to the first one with the exception that NSU is removed
NMFS Releases Dec. 2017 Summary of Bluefin Tuna Landings
Preliminary National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) statistics comparing Atlantic bluefin tuna landings in December 2017 to December 2016 indicate more fish were landed in 2017, but smaller in size and less in total weight. The same was true for bluefin tuna landed in the General Category, handline and harpoon, fisheries during the two years. Also more bluefin tuna were landed by pelagic longline gear in December 2017 than in December 2016, but the average weight was higher. The total number of bluefin tuna landed in December 2017 by all commercial gear was 5091 fish, weighing 842 metric tons (1,856,273.2
Billfish A Low-Value Food Item In Trinidad & Tobago

Recent images from the island nation of Trinidad & Tobago have again brought attention to the plight of billfish in the Caribbean. The photos show over a dozen billfish that were landed in Trinidad by local fishers, who likely are unaware of the economic benefits a live marlin can bring to their nation if left in the water. The sportfishing eco-tourism trade leads to greater economic benefits and jobs for the community than the one-time-use of the fish as food. According to numerous locals with whom TBF’s management has spoken, fishers in fact prefer to catch other pelagic species
Anglers’ Sunken Boat Likely ‘Human Error,’ Not Marlin
A group of anglers were rescued off the Boynton Beach Inlet Saturday morning after their boat was allegedly sunk by a massive marlin. However, their story has since been called into question. The Sun Sentinel reports that a passing catamaran pulled the five men from the ocean as their boat sank within view of the shore. One of the men told the crew of the catamaran that a large marlin was responsible for sinking their 31-foot vessel, causing the boat to take on too much water before going under. Local, seasoned fishermen, however, say the cause was likely user