Abstract

The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) implemented the Enhanced Research Program for Billfish (ERPB) in 1987 in order to obtain the data necessary for assessing the status of Atlantic billfish (Istiophoridae) stocks. This program was designed to provide more detailed billfish catch and effort statistics, develop an international tagging program for billfishes, and assist in collecting data for billfish age and growth studies. Research activities include at-sea sampling with observers on Venezuelan industrial longline vessels during 1987 - 1998. This large database is comprised of fishing hips divided into sets, and organized by season. More recently, at-sea sampling is planned to stat in 1999 on longline vessels Fishing out of Brazil and Uruguay. Biological sampling is also conducted by observers and includes sampling of swordfish, istiophorids, and yellowfin tuna for reproductive and age determination studies, as well as genetics research. Size frequency data have been collected (1987 - 19%) through shore-based sampling of billfish landings in the West Atlantic from Venezuela, Grenada, Barbados, Trinidad, Jamaica, St. Martin, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and in the East Atlantic from Senegal, Cote d’lvoire, and Ghana. Sampling of billfish tournaments has occurred in Barbados, Bermuda, Brazil, Grenada, Jamaica, St Martin, Tobago, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Venezuela Tagging of juvenile swordfish off Venezuelan longline vessels has resulted in 68 releases since 19%. Program participants in Barbados, Grenada, and Venezuela continued to assist in obtaining information on tag-recaptured billfish, as well as numerous sharks, in the Western Atlantic Ocean during 1998.

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