2020 Conservation Record: Sailfish
The Billfish Foundation maintains the largest private tag and release database in the world, with 260,000 records by 150,000 anglers. In 2020 alone, TBF anglers and captains tagged, released, or recaptured 7,000 billfish and tuna across the world. Of these 7,000 new records, 2,908 were of sailfish. Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus/albicans) are native to the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Istiophorus albicans refers to the Atlantic sailfish, while Istiophorus platypterus refers to the Indo-Pacific sailfish. However, many use Istiophorus platypterus for both, as there is little difference between the two aside from size and location. Here, The Billfish Foundation also
2020 Conservation Record: Striped Marlin
The Billfish Foundation maintains the largest private tag and release database in the world, with 260,000 records by 150,000 anglers. In 2020 alone, TBF anglers and captains tagged, released, or recaptured 7,000 billfish and tuna across the world. Of these 7,000 new records, 1,963 were of striped marlin. Striped marlin (Kajikia audax) are native only to the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They can grow up to 12ft long and over 450lbs. Information on how to identify a striped marlin can be found on our youtube channel. Thank you to everyone that tagged and released striped marlin last year
2020 Conservation Record: White Marlin
The Billfish Foundation maintains the largest private tag and release database in the world, with 260,000 records by 150,000 anglers. In 2020 alone, TBF anglers and captains tagged, released, or recaptured 7,000 billfish and tuna across the world. Of these 7,000 new records, 270 were of white marlin. White marlin (Kajikia albida) are native only to the Atlantic Ocean. They are often confused with roundscale spearfish (Tetrapturus georgii) as the two species appear nearly identical. For that reason, most regulatory agencies combine their management. Because of this, and because identification between the two is unreliable, TBF also combines the
2020 Conservation Record: Swordfish
The Billfish Foundation maintains the largest private tag and release database in the world, with 260,000 records by 150,000 anglers. In 2020 alone, TBF anglers and captains tagged, released, or recaptured 7,000 billfish and tuna across the world. Of these 7,000 new records, 169 were of swordfish. Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) are the only billfish species of the family Xiphiidae (as opposed to Istiophoridae). They are native to all oceans, but the vast majority of our records originate in the Atlantic. Information on how to identify a swordfish can be found on our youtube channel. Thank you to everyone that tagged
2020 Conservation Record: Black Marlin
The Billfish Foundation maintains the largest private tag and release database in the world, with 260,000 records by 150,000 anglers. In 2020 alone, TBF anglers and captains tagged, released, or recaptured 7,000 billfish and tuna across the world. Of these 7,000 new records, 74 were of black marlin. Black marlin (Istiompax indica) are one of our lesser reported species and are native only to the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are one of the largest species of billfish, with records up to 15ft long and 1,600lbs. Information on how to identify a black marlin can be found on our
2020 Conservation Record: Spearfish
The Billfish Foundation maintains the largest private tag and release database in the world, with over 260,000 records by over 150,000 anglers. In 2020 alone, TBF anglers and captains tagged, released, or recaptured 7,000 billfish and tuna across the world. Of these 7,000 new records, 44 were of spearfish. Spearfish are the least represented billfish in the TBF dataset, making every new report that much more important. Thank you to everyone that tagged and released spearfish last year. Click here for information on our Tag and Release Program and here to purchase tagging equipment and other TBF items
TBF’s Juvenile Billfish Project Update
At the end of 2019, The Billfish Foundation announced the Juvenile Billfish Project. The Juvenile Billfish Project was created with our friend Dr. Freddy Arocha to fill the massive gap in knowledge of the early lives of billfish. Billfish have high mortality rates in their juvenile stages and there is little known about where they breed and spawn. As a result, it is impossible to track and study them using regular tagging methods. The Juvenile Billfish Project asks TBF members worldwide to send in photos and information about their sightings of juvenile billfish. With this information, we hope
TBF’s Top Contributions of 2020
With the year coming to a close, we thank you for your support, as we reflect on TBF’s key contributions in 2020. To stay up-to-date on all things billfish, become a member, donate, visit our online shop, and follow us on social media
TBF Swordfish Data Represented at ICCAT Meeting
Through its 30-year old tagging program, supported by 190,000 voluntary angler-reported tag reports from around the world, The Billfish Foundation (TBF) assists scientists in gaining a better understanding of billfish’s life history characteristics, including growth, reproduction, yearly movement and survival.  Rare is it to receive tagging data from the Mediterranean Sea, but recent tagging by captsins Rudy and Samuel Urbain provided such a surprise. In March, Drs. Folio Garibaldi and George Stirpes presented swordfish tagging data at a meeting of the Swordfish Species Group, within the International Commission on the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas) to help gain a better
2020 Billfish Recaptures Update
The most important data received through TBF’s Tag & Release Program is recapture data. A recapture occurs when a tagged billfish is caught by a second angler subsequent to the tagging and release of a fish. Recapture data contributes toward gaining a better understanding of the species age and growth rates by comparing the reported estimated weight at the time of tagging with the estimated weight upon recapture with consideration given to the amount of time between the two events. Recapture data also contributes to understanding a species possible site or area fidelity, if tagged and recaptured in the
