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Asymmetric conservation benefits of circle hooks in multispecies billfish recreational fisheries: a synthesis of hook performance and analysis of blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) postrelease survival

Graves, John E. and Horodysky, Andrij Z. (2010) Asymmetric conservation benefits of circle hooks in multispecies billfish recreational fisheries: a synthesis of hook performance and analysis of blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) postrelease survival. Fishery Bulletin, 108(4), pp. 433-441.

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    Abstract

    We evaluated the conservation benefits of the use of circle hooks compared with standard J hooks in the recreational fishery for Atlantic istiophorid billfishes, noting hooking location and the presence of trauma (bleeding) for 123 blue marlin (Makaira nigricans), 272 white marlin (Kajikia albida), and 132 sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) caught on natural baits rigged with one of the two hook types. In addition, we used pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs) to follow the fate of 61 blue marlin caught on natural baits rigged with circle hooks or on a combination of artificial lure and natural bait rigged with J hooks. The frequencies of internal hooking locations and bleeding were significantly lower with circle hooks than with J hooks for each of the three species and were significantly reduced for blue marlin caught on J hooks than for white marlin and sailfish taken on the same hook type. Analysis of the data received from 59 PSATs (two tags released prematurely) indicated no mortalities among the 29 blue marlin caught on circle hooks and two mortalities among the 30 blue marlin caught on J hooks (6.7%). Collectively, the hook location and PSAT data revealed that blue marlin, like white marlin and sailfish, derive substantial conservation benefits from the use of circle hooks, and the negative impacts of J hooks are significantly reduced for blue marlin relative to the other two species.

    Item Type: Article
    Title: Asymmetric conservation benefits of circle hooks in multispecies billfish recreational fisheries: a synthesis of hook performance and analysis of blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) postrelease survival
    Personal Creator/Author:
    CreatorsEmail
    Graves, John E.
    Horodysky, Andrij Z.
    Refereed: Yes
    Journal or Publication Title: Fishery Bulletin
    Volume: 108
    Number: 4
    Page Range: pp. 433-441
    Date: 2010
    ISSN: 0090-0656
    Issuing Agency: United States National Marine Fisheries Service
    Subjects: Biology
    Ecology
    Fisheries
    Item ID: 8739
    Depositing User: Patti M. Marraro
    Date Deposited: 07 Jun 2012 16:45
    Last Modified: 07 Jun 2012 16:45
    URI: http://aquaticcommons.org/id/eprint/8739

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