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Billfish Working Group

Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) --- North Pacific

◊ Biological Profile

Blue marlin is highly migratory and their distribution is circumglobal in warm tropical and semitropical waters. Blue marlin are believed to comprise a single stock throughout the Pacific Ocean.

Blue marlin is fast-growing and the largest of the istiophorids. Females can attain maximum sizes around 900 kg, much larger than the maximum size of males, because female growth in length at age continues after male growth has slowed and becomes asymptotic.

Blue marlin are apex predators. Small tunas (skipjack, Katsuwonus pelamis) and bullet tunas (Auxis rochei) are major prey items, along with squids.

  • Life span : At least 15 years
  • Maximum size: About 400 cm in eye-fork length in the western and central Pacific Ocean
  • Maturity: About 50% at 5 years old
  • Spawning season: May-September

◊ Stock Status and Conservation Information

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