■126- 



Bl ue marl in catches rose to a high of 4,980 mt in 1956, fluctuated 

 between 4,980 and 2,634 mt from 1956 to 1970, and dropped to 1,515 mt in 

 1976 (Figure 3). Striped marl in catches reached a high of 4,729 mt in 1969 

 and have since varied between 1,117 and 3,401 mt (Figure 4). Black marlin 

 catches increased to a peak of 2,460 mt in 1968 and have generally 

 decreased since then (Figure 5). Swordfish catches amounted to almost 

 2,300 mt in 1969 and 1970. There was a steady rising trend before those 

 years and an irregularly declining trend after (Figure 6). The trend of 

 sail fish catches was up before 1967, when 1,972 mt were caught, then 

 declined to present levels (Figure 7). 



I .C. Value of Catch 



Most of the Indian Ocean bill fish catch is presumed to have been 

 sold in Japan, The average monthly ex-vessel prices at Yaizu, Japan, for 

 blue, striped, and black marlins, and swordfish, from January 1978 to May 

 1979 ([U.S.] National Marine Fisheries Service 1978-1979), are presented in 

 Table 3. During that period, striped marlin, the most valuable of the 

 bill fish species, sold for $2,316 a short ton to $4,345 a short ton. 

 Swordfish prices were usually better than blue marlin prices which, in 

 turn, were usually better than black marlin prices. Swordfish prices 

 ranged from $2,129 a short ton to $2,833 a short ton; blue marlin, $1,933- 

 $3,156 a short ton; and black marlin, $l,638-$2,744 a short ton. 



I.D. Current Management of the Fishery 



None of the bill fishes in the Indian Ocean are currenty under 

 manaaement. 



II. NATURE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF U.S. AND 



FOREIGN PARTICIPATION IN THE FISHERY 



The U.S. is interested in the bill fishes of the Indian Ocean as a 

 resource, but is not actively involved in fishing for them. 



III. STATUS OF THE STOCKS 

 1 1 1. A. Stock Structure 



The extant data on the spawning areas and the geographical 

 variation in catch rates suggest a single stock of blue marlin in the 



