1. 8.6 BLUE MARLIN AND WHITE MARLIN
One summary for both marlin species, as reported in 2006

2. BUM/WHM-1. Biology
New information on the timing and location of spawning for blue and white marlin, the size at first maturity and the fecundity for different size fish, has been recently made available.
SCRS 2007/100

3. Identification of Round scale spearfish vs White marlin and Atlantic spearfish
The significance of this misidentification is still to be evaluated, but more effort is been made to train observers to separate the two species in the catches.

4. Includes only updates of new information

5. BUM/WHM 2. Catch
In recent years large catches of billfish continue to be reported as unclassified billfish
BUM/WHM-Figure 1

6. BUM/WHM 2. Catch
Catches in 2005 and 2006 have not yet been evaluated to the extent done for catches for during the 2006 marlin assessment
2004
2005
2006
BUM
2117
3451
2060
WHM
573
598
342

7. Only changes are updates of values
for 2005 and 2006 catch from task I

8. BUM/WHM-3. Fishery indices
No updates of abundance indices have been obtained since the 2006 assessment.
No changes to the text

9. BUM/WHM-4. State of the stocks
No new information on stock status has been provided since the 2006 assessment.
WHM
BUM
B2004>Bmsy
Yes
Recent Abundance trend
Slightly
upward
Possibly stabilizing
F2004>Freplacement
Possibly
F2004>Fmsy

10. No changes to the text except references
to the 2006 assessment

11. BUM/WHM-5. Recovery/Outlook
No new information on the recovery/outlook for marlins has been provided since the 2006 assessment.
WHM
BUM
Longline and purse seine
Catchrecent/Catch1996
0.47
0.52
Catch2004
610
2,916
MSY
600-1,300
1,000-2,400

12. No changes to the text except references
to the 2006 assessment

13. BUM/WHM-6. Effect of current regulations
More countries have started reporting live releases in Additionally, more information has come about, for some fleets, on the potential for using gear modifications to reduce the bycatch and increase the survival of marlins.
Photo courtesy of SCRS/2007/113
Such studies have also provided information on the rates of live releases for those fleets. However there is not enough information on the proportion of fish being released alive for all fleets, to evaluate the effectiveness of the ICCAT recommendation relating to the live release of marlins.

14. Only changes are reference to studies
of effects of gear modifications

15. BUM/WHM-7. Management recommendations…
Should the Commission wish to increase the likelihood of success of the current management measures of the marlin rebuilding plan, further reduction in mortality would be needed, for example by:
encouraging the use of alternative gear configurations, including certain types of circle hooks, hook/bait combinations etc…in fisheries where its use has been shown to be beneficial,

16. Only changes are reference to studies of effects of gear modifications

17. WHM BUM Summary Table No changes except to footnote 3 – 2006 catches