We investigated whether commercially landed black marlin Istiompax indica were being misidentified by fisheries observers operating throughout the Pacific Ocean. Of 83 samples reported by observers as I. indica, 77% were genetically identified to be blue marlin Makaira nigricans and 2% to be striped marlin Kajikia audax. The high rate of misidentification by observers places considerable uncertainty over historic catch ratios of Indo-Pacific marlin and stock assessments relying on the validity of these data.
Keywords: Istiompax indica; Kajikia audax; Makaira nigricans; marlin; misreporting; sustainability.
© 2018 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.