Marlin

For other uses, see Marlin (disambiguation).

Marlin
Atlantic blue marlin
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Istiophoridae
Genera
Istiophorus Makaira Tetrapturus

Morning catch of marlin at Jimbaran, Indonesia

Marlin, family Istiophoridae, are fish with an elongated body, a spear-like snout or bill, and a long rigid dorsal fin, which extends forward to form a crest. Its common name is thought to derive from its resemblance to a sailor's marlinspike.^[1] Even more so than their close relatives the scombrids, marlin are incredibly fast swimmers, reaching speeds of about 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph).^[2][3]

The larger species include the Atlantic blue marlin, Makaira nigricans, which can reach 5.968 metres (19.58 ft) in length and 818 kilograms (1,800 lb) in weight, and the Black marlin, Makaira indica, which can reach in excess of 5 metres (16 ft) in length and 670 kilograms (1,500 lb) in weight. They are popular sporting fish in tropical areas. Many sporting fishers like to try their luck at catching a massive marlin.

Marlin are rarely table fare, appearing mostly in fine restaurants. Most modern sport fishermen release marlin after unhooking.

Very large marlin, which may set a record, are taken and weighed on shore. Records are most often recorded in the IGFA World Record Game Fish books. The current record has stood for some 20 years.

Classification

The marlins are perciform fish, most closely related to the swordfish and Scombridae.

Family Istiophoridae

• Genus Istiophorus
  • Istiophorus albicans—Atlantic sailfish
  • Istiophorus platypterus—Indo-Pacific sailfish
• Genus Makaira
  • Makaira indica—Black marlin
  • Makaira mazara—Indo-Pacific blue marlin
  • Makaira nigricans—Atlantic blue marlin
• Genus Tetrapturus
  • Tetrapturus albidus—Atlantic white marlin
  • Tetrapturus angustirostris—Shortbill spearfish
  • Tetrapturus audax—Striped marlin
  • Tetrapturus belone—Mediterranean spearfish
  • Tetrapturus georgii—Roundscale spearfish
  • Tetrapturus pfluegen—Longbill spearfish

Timeline of genera

Sustainable consumption

In 2010, Greenpeace International has added the striped marlin, white marlin, atlantic blue marlin, black marlin, and Makaira (Indo-pacific blue marlin) to its seafood red list. "The Greenpeace International seafood red list is a list of fish that are commonly sold in supermarkets around the world, and which have a very high risk of being sourced from unsustainable fisheries."^[4]

In literature

In the Nobel Prize–winning author Ernest Hemingway's 1952 novel The Old Man and the Sea, the central character of the work is an aged Cuban fisherman who, after 84 days without success on the water, heads out to sea in order to break his run of bad luck. On the 85th day, Santiago—the old fisherman—hooks a resolute marlin; what follows is a great struggle between man, sea creature, and the elements.

See also

Fish portal

• Marlin fishing
• Miami Marlins
• Sailfish

References

Notes

1. ^ Douglas Harper (November 2001). "marlin". Online Etymological Dictionary. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=marlin. 
2. ^ Johnson, G.D. & Gill, A.C. (1998). Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N.. ed. Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 190–191. ISBN 0-12-547665-5. 
3. ^ thetravelalmanac.com/lists/fish-speed.htm
4. ^ Greenpeace International Seafood Red list

Sources

• Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2005). "Istiophoridae" in FishBase. November 2005 version.
• Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology 364: p.560. http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=611&rank=class. Retrieved 2011-05-19. 

External links

• "Marlin spears fisherman as it leaps across boat", The Times of London
• "'Ghost Fish' Revelation May Alter Marlin's Status" from National Public Radio
• Marlin Fishing Charters