Length frequency distributions of billfishes (Xiphiidae and Istiophoridae) from Indonesian tuna longline observer data

Length frequency distributions of billfishes (Xiphiidae and Istiophoridae) from Indonesian tuna longline observer data

Year of publication 2013

Product type Meeting

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Billfishes are the one of the important byproduct for Indonesian tu longline fishermen. The objective of this study is to describe length frequency and the distributions of billfishes in Indonesia. Data collections were taken by observer on 83 longline vessels in Benoa Port, Bali, Indonesia from 2005 to 2012. Lower-jaw fork length (LJFL) was used to measure the length of the fish. The results showed that six species of billfishes were caught by longline vessels i.e.: 973 swordfish (X. gladius) r ange: 50-280 cm; mean±SE: 128±1.48 cm, 94 sailfish (I. platypterus) range: 98-259 cm; mean±SE: 165±3.51 cm, 252 shortbill spearfish (T. angustirostris) range: 82-221 cm; mean±SE: 151±1.05 cm, 222 blue marlin (M. mazara) range: 110-298 cm; mean±SE: 192±2.39 cm, 310 black marlin (I. indica) range: 60-307 cm; mean±SE: 184±1.92 cm and 109 striped marlin (K. audax) range: 69-270 cm; mean±SE: 177±3.23 cm. The latitudil and longitudil range distributions of six billfishes were range from 0°65' to 33°66 ' S and from 76°00' to 131°47' E. The majority of billfishes were caught with range from 10°00' to 20°00' S and from 110°00' to 120°00' E. Further study is needed on the biological aspects of billfishes to support their magement policy in Indonesia.

Statutory body / Meeting title Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)

Meeting symbol IOTC-2013-WPB11-14 Rev_1

Meeting Session Number 11

Language English