Indo-Pacific blue marlin (Makaira mazara)

Scientific name: Makaira mazara Jordan & Snyder, 1901

Indo-Pacific blue marlin (Makaira mazara)

The Indo-Pacific blue marlin (Makaira mazara) is a marine fish of the family Istiophoridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 21°C (70°F).

Indo-Pacific blue marlin care at a glance

Temperature
21°C (70°F)

Biology

Epipelagic and oceanic species mostly confined to the waters on the warmer side of the 24?C surface isotherm and known to effect seasonal north-south migrations. Not usually seen close to land masses or islands, unless there is a deep drop-off of the shelf. Remain mostly within the upper 37 m. Believed to form small-scale schools of at most 10 individuals. Larger fish tend to swim solitarily but smaller ones form schools of about 10 individuals. Feed on squids, tuna-like fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods. Also caught with troll lines. The flesh is of good quality and is marketed frozen and prepared as sashimi and sausages in Japan; also utilized fresh. Also.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Makaira mazara
Family
Istiophoridae (Billfishes)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
500
Common length
350
Depth range
0–200 m (0–656 ft)
Environment
Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 200 m, usually 100 - ? m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: in tropical, subtropical and sometimes temperate waters. It is the most tropical billfish species and is common in equatorial waters. However, many scientists do not view Makaira mazara and Makaira nigricans as distinct species, and that the latter species has been considered a single pantropical occurring in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (rm=0.104; K=0.12-0.29; tm=4; tmax=28; Fec=31 million)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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