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Results of a Tagging Program to Determine Migration Rates and Patterns for Black Marlin, Makaira indica, in the Southwest Pacific Ocean
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1983
[PDF-7.03 MB]
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Description:Marine game fIsh anglers reported tagging a total of 2,576 black marlin, Makaira indica, from 1968 through 1978 near the Great Barrier Reef, north Queensland, Australia, as part of the National Marine Fisheries Service Cooperative Marine Game Fish Tagging Program-Pacific Area. Sixty tagged black marlin were recaptured during an 11-year period for a recapture rate of 2.3%. Average weight of black marlin tagged was estimated to be 175 kg (385 Ib). Anglers tend to overestimate weight at time of tagging and short-term recaptures (0-60 days) indicate an average angler overestimate of 16 kg (35 Ib) per marlin.
Sex was determined for 28 recaptures; 25 (89%) were reported as males and 3 (11%) reported as females. Average weight of males at recapture was 91 kg (195 Ib), for females, 221 kg (488 Ib).
Vector analysis of time, distance, and direction data for tag recovery locations indicated migration direction (vector mean bearing) and distance (vector mean distance from point of tagging) by periods of release time: 0-60 days, 121'/ 72 nmi, 61-120 days, 134'/ 446 nmi, 121-240 days, 097'/ 1,256 nmi.
The greatest distance (2,100 nmi) recorded from the point of tagging was for a black marlin recaptured northeast of New Zealand, 235 days after tagging. Black marlin tagged early in the north Queensland fIshing season (September) tended to migrate away from the area of tagging at a lower rate for the first 0-60 day period than black marlin tagged in October, November, or later in the fIshing season.
Tag recoveries were made near the tagging location 1, 2, and 4 years after tagging. Locations of recapture for these black marlin were calculated to be a vector mean distance of 58.3 nmi from the point of tagging. Longline high catch rate areas for black marlin indicate a monthly movement for the first 240 days of release time not unlike that observed by tagging. In the summer the centers of high catch rate show a south to southeast movement off the east coast of Australia from the tagging area, then a northward movement in the winter and spring to the New Guinea-Bismark Archipelago-Solomon Islands area. The amount of interchange with the Indo-Pacific and areas to the north is unclear, although emigration from the tagging area to north of New Guinea was recorded.
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Rights Information:CC0 Public Domain
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