AUTHOR:AUSTRALIAN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (AFMA)
PHOTOGRAPHY:ALAMY STOCK; AFMAAswellasbeingahealthyformofoutdoorrecreation,goodgamefishinggenerates
jobsandincomeforcoastalcommunities,somanaginggamefishstockstoensuretheir
abundanceisanimportantroleoftheAustralianFisheriesManagementAuthority.Itis
alsowhytheyhavebannedcommercialfishersfromtakingblueandblackmarlin.BLACK AND BLUE MARLIN
IN AUSTRALIA’S ETBF
T
he first day of 2018 saw gamefishermen catch
a 496kg (1089lb) blue marlin off the coast of
Exmouth in Western Australia. The capture of
this ‘grander’ blue has subsequently stirred up
quite a bit of excitement among anglers.
This is the biggest blue marlin ever landed in
Australia and has the potential to put Exmouth on the
world gamefishing map, attracting both domestic and
international anglers. The presence of large marlin can
be very lucrative to local economies, boosting revenue
for charters and all the other businesses related to
recreational fishing tourism.MAKE IT LAST
Ensuring that gamefishing hotspots like Exmouth and
Cairns remain lucrative and internationally known
for having good numbers of large marlin requiressustainable management of blue and black marlin
stocks. That is the role of the Australian Fisheries
Management Authority (AFMA).
Black and blue marlin are fast growing fish, and
before they even reach Australian waters their highly
migratory habits mean they are subject to fishing
pressure from dozens of international commercial
fleets, where they are taken as bycatch during
tuna and swordfish operations. They are also prized
by recreational and charter anglers throughout the
world’s tropical and subtropical waters.
In Australia, black and blue marlin are caught by
both recreational and commercial longline fishers.
However, since 1998 commercial fishers have been
banned from retaining any black or blue marlin. If
accidentally caught by a commercial fisherman, these
two marlin species must be returned to the water.74 facebook.com/BlueWatermagazine