108 
Fishery Bulletin 115(1) 
before ascent (20-40 min). Additionally, an examina- 
tion of lunar phase with mean nighttime depth did not 
detect any significant correlation {R^=0.0005). 
Discussion 
This article is the first published report on the move- 
ments and vertical habitat use of the longfin make, a 
poorly studied shark species for which our knowledge 
has largely been based on incidental catches from pe- 
lagic fisheries. This study is based on 2 satellite tracks, 
and the results revealed similar movements of the 2 
longfin makos from the GOM to the western North At- 
lantic Ocean, as well as a diel pattern of vertical move- 
ment, a tolerance for extended periods in deep cold wa- 
ter, and dynamic vertical forays. 
Horizontal movements and distribution 
The MLTs for the 2 longfin makos revealed long-dis- 
tance movements from the eastern GOM, through the 
Straits of Florida, and into the open Atlantic Ocean off 
the northeastern coast of the United States. Although 
direct comparisons between movement rates are made 
difficult by differences in tracking or analytical meth- 
ods, the rates of movement for LFMl (75.7 km/d) and 
LFM2 (58.8 km/d) are comparable with those reported 
for other lamnids. Short-term acoustic tracks of shortfin 
makos have indicated mean speeds of 53 km/d (2.2 km/h; 
Sepulveda et ah, 2004). Migratory tracks from satellite 
tagging of white sharks have shown mean movement 
rates of 74.4 km/d (Bruce et ah, 2006) and 
that individual white sharks travel as fast 
as 119 km/d (Weng et ah, 2007). Data from 
conventional tagging of longfin makos, al- 
though scant, have indicated movements 
consistent with those observed with our 
satellite-tracked longfin makos: 2 sharks 
conventionally tagged in the eastern GOM 
were recaptured off the coasts of northern 
Cuba and eastern Florida (Kohler et al., 
1998). Data from a more recent return of 
a conventional tag from a longfin mako 
indicated movement from the eastern 
Caribbean to the continental slope off 
of Delaware Bay (Kohler‘S). Off the U.S. 
north Atlantic coast, this species has been 
tagged in waters along the shelf edge (at 
depths >200 m), and the few recaptures 
from this area indicate a pattern of move- 
ment eastward into deeper pelagic waters 
(Kohler et al., 1998). 
The presence of LFMl and LFM2 in 
the Straits of Florida is consistent with 
fisheries data from this region. In an 
overview of the landings of large pelagic 
species along the northern coast of Cuba, 
Guitart Manday (1975) reported that the 
longfin mako was captured in nearly ev- 
ery month but noted peaks in abundance in surveys 
conducted during August-November in 1971 and dur- 
ing April-May and August-November in 1972. Obser- 
vations from recent studies of the artisanal pelagic 
longline fishery along the northern coast of Cuba have 
indicated that the longfin mako continues to be caught 
year-round and peaks in relative abundance during 
January-March (J. Angulo Valdes, unpubl. data). Do- 
drill and Gilmore (1979) documented a beached speci- 
men of longfin mako at Melbourne Beach, along the 
east coast of Florida, during the month of December (in 
1975) and made note in their addendum of 2 additional 
specimens captured with drift longlines at depths of 
200-400 m between Jupiter and Sebastian Inlets dur- 
ing the months of April and May (in 1978). In a 2-year 
study of the shark hycatch in the swordfish fishery off 
the east coast of Florida, Berkeley and Campos (1988) 
recorded 2 longfin makos captured during the months 
of October and December (in 1982). 
In our study, both male longfin makos moved into 
the MAB during the months of June and July and used 
outer continental shelf, slope, and oceanic habitats dur- 
ing this period. Conventional tagging data from this 
area indicated a similar distribution of captures, along 
with a male:female ratio of 1. 9:1.0, for the longfin 
mako (Kohler et al., 1998). Data provided by the NMFS 
Pelagic Observer Program (POP) for the period 1992- 
2014 indicated that 18% of longfin makos documented 
Kohler, N. 2015. Personal commun. Northeast Fish. Sci. 
Cent., Natl. Mar. Fish. Serv., 28 Tarzwell Dr., Narragansett, 
RI 02882. 
