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technology as well as popularity. Centers of activity for the various 

 species include Mexico, New Zealand, and California for striped marlin; 

 Hawaii, Tahiti, and Guam for blue marlin; and Australia and Chile for black 

 marlin. In addition, the number of marlin anglers is increasing in Fiji, 

 Papua New Guinea, and Japan. Marlin fishing in the Pacific attracts sport 

 fishermen from all over the world. 



I.B. Trends in Catch and Effort 



Blue marlin- -Catches increased from 15,525 metric tons (mt) in 1952 

 to a peak of 31,344 mt in 1963 (Figure 5 and Table 2). Since then catches 

 have fluctuated, generally declining to 14,813 mt in 1976. Effective 

 fishing effort increased from 50 million hooks in 1952 to about 269 million 

 hooks in 1963 and fluctuated around 200 million hooks from 1964 to 1975 

 (Figure 6). 



Striped marlin- -From 4,994 mt in 1952, catches reached a high of 

 27,143 mt in 1968 (Figure 7). In 1972 the striped marlin catch dropped 

 abruptly to 14,541 mt and has hovered about 15,000 mt since. Total 

 effective fishing effort (Figure 8) showed an increasing trend from 1952 

 through 1964. Since then fishing effort has fluctuated between 100 and 200 

 million hooks. 



Black marlin- -The catch rose from 1,806 mt in 1952 to a high of 

 6,466 mt in 1956 (Figure 9). It then fluctuated between 2,207 and 4,066 mt 

 from 1959 to 1976. Effort data were summarized for four Pacific areas: 

 northwestern (Area 1), southwestern (Area 2), eastern (Area 3), and western 

 (Area 4, a combination of Area 1 and 2) (see Figure 3). Effective fishing 

 effort from 1952 to 1975 has been erratic and does not show any discernible 

 trend in Areas 1, 2, and 4 (Figure 10). In the eastern Pacific (Area 3), 

 where the Japanese tuna fishery commenced in 1956, effort has been on a 

 generally increasing trend. 



I.e. Value of Catch 



The ex-vessel prices of marlin from January 1978 to May 1979 at 

 Yaizu, Japan, show striped marlin to be the most valuable of the three 

 species (Table 3). During that period, striped marlin prices ranged from 

 $2,316 to $4,345 a short ton. Blue marlin usually commanded a better price 

 than black marlin, selling for $1,933 to $3,165 a short ton. Black marlin 

 prices fluctuated between $1,638 and $2,744 a short ton. 



I.D. Current Management of the Fishery 



The marl ins are under no management scheme at present. A 

 Preliminary Management Plan for Pacific Bill fishes, which sets optimum 



