The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2008: T170338A6754507
Istiophorus platypterus, Sailfish
Assessment by: Collette, B. et al.
View on www.iucnredlist.org
Short citation: Collette, B. et al. 2011. Istiophorus platypterus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2011: e.T170338A6754507. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20112.RLTS.T170338A6754507.en [see full citation at end]
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Actinopterygii
Perciformes
Istiophoridae
Taxon Name: Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw, 1792)
Synonym(s):
• Histiophorus americanus
• Histiophorus ancipitirostris
• Histiophorus dubius
• Histiophorus gracilirostris
• Histiophorus granulifer
• Histiophorus immaculatus
• Histiophorus indicus
• Histiophorus magnioci
• Histiophorus orientalis
• Histiophorus pulchellus
• Istiophorus amarui
• Istiophorus brookei
• Istiophorus eriquius
• Istiophorus gladifer
• Istiophorus greyi
• Istiophorus japonicus
• Istiophorus ludibundus
• Istiophorus maguirei
• Istiophorus triactis
• Istiophorus wrighti
• Makaira albicans
• Makaira velifera
• Scomber gladius
• Skeponopodus guebucu
• Xiphias platypterus
• Xiphias velifer
Common Name(s):
• English:
• French:
• Spanish:
Sailfish
Empereur Éventail, Espadon Voilier
Aguja de Abanico , Pez Velo, Picudo Banderón
Taxonomic Notes:
There is no genetic evidence in the mtDNA control region to indicate that the Atlantic (Istiophorus
albicans) and Indo-Pacific (Istiophorus platypterus) Sailfishes are separate species (Collette et al. 2006).
However, there are two distinct mtDNA clades, both evident in the Atlantic while only one is found in
the Indo-Pacific. There is also no difference in pectoral fin length or in any other morphometric or
meristic characters between Atlantic and Indo-Pacific populations of sailfish (Morrow and Harbo 1969,
McDowell 2002). Populations of the Indo-Pacific Sailfishes and the Atlantic Sailfishes are conspecific
(McDowell 2002, Collette et al. 2006).
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Istiophorus platypterus – published in 2011.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170338A6754507.en
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Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:
Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:
2011
Date Assessed:
September 16, 2010
Justification:
This species is widespread in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, and is common. It is primarily caught in sport
and artisanal fisheries, and as bycatch in long-line and purse seines. There have been some localized
declines, such as in Central America and in Iran and India, but there are no stock assessments, and
landings and effort data are not reliable as catch statistics for this species are generally aggregated with
other species. However, there is not currently any indication of widespread decline. It is therefore listed
as Least Concern. Better reporting of catch and effort is needed to adequately assess this species
population especially in the Indian and Pacific oceans.
For further information about this species, see Supplementary Material.
Geographic Range
Range Description:
In the Indian and Pacific oceans, this species occurs between approximately 45.5°N and 40.35°S in the
western Pacific, 35°N and 35°S in the eastern Pacific, 45°S in the western Indian Ocean and 35°S in
eastern Indian Ocean.
In the Eastern Pacific, this species is found from southern California and the lower three-fourths of the
Gulf of California to Peru, including all of the oceanic islands.
This species is found in tropical and temperate waters approximately 40°N in the northwest Atlantic,
50°N in the northeast Atlantic, 40°S in the southwest Atlantic, and 32°S in the southeast Atlantic. It has
entered the Mediterranean Sea from the Red Sea via the Suez Canal.
In both the eastern tropical Pacific and the eastern tropical Atlantic, sailfish concentrate in shallower
waters than in the western part of both oceans due to hypoxia-based habitat compression over oxygen
minimum zones in the eastern tropical seas (Prince et al. 2010).
Country Occurrence:
Native: Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; American Samoa (American Samoa); Angola (Angola); Antigua and
Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Bahamas; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Barbados; Belize; Benin; Bermuda;
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Saba, Sint Eustatius); Brazil; British Indian Ocean Territory; Cambodia;
Cameroon; Canada; Cape Verde; Cayman Islands; Chile (Easter Is.); China; Christmas Island; Cocos
(Keeling) Islands; Colombia; Comoros; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Cook Islands; Costa Rica;
Côte d'Ivoire; Croatia; Cuba; Curaçao; Cyprus; Djibouti; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador
(Galápagos); Egypt; El Salvador; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Fiji; France (Clipperton I.); French Guiana;
French Polynesia; French Southern Territories (Crozet Is.); Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Greece; Grenada;
Guadeloupe; Guam; Guatemala; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Honduras; Hong Kong; India
(Andaman Is.); Indonesia; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Japan; Jordan; Kenya;
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Istiophorus platypterus – published in 2011.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170338A6754507.en
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Kiribati; Korea, Democratic People's Republic of; Korea, Republic of; Kuwait; Lebanon; Liberia; Libya;
Macao; Madagascar; Malaysia; Maldives; Malta; Marshall Islands; Mauritania; Mauritius; Mayotte;
Mexico; Micronesia, Federated States of ; Monaco; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Nauru; New
Caledonia; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Niue; Norfolk Island; Northern Mariana Islands; Oman;
Pakistan; Palau; Panama; Papua New Guinea; Peru; Philippines; Pitcairn; Portugal (Azores, Madeira);
Puerto Rico; Qatar; Réunion; Russian Federation; Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha; Saint
Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Martin (French part); Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; Sao
Tomé and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Seychelles; Sierra Leone; Singapore; Sint Maarten (Dutch
part); Slovenia; Solomon Islands; Somalia; South Africa; Spain (Canary Is.); Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname;
Syrian Arab Republic; Taiwan, Province of China; Tanzania, United Republic of; Thailand; Togo; Tokelau;
Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tunisia; Turkey; Turks and Caicos Islands; Tuvalu; United Arab Emirates;
United Kingdom; United States (Hawaiian Is.); United States Minor Outlying Islands (Howland-Baker Is.,
Johnston I., US Line Is., Wake Is.); Uruguay; Vanuatu; Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of; Viet Nam; Virgin
Islands, British; Virgin Islands, U.S.; Wallis and Futuna; Western Sahara; Yemen
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:
Introduced: Atlantic - eastern central, Atlantic - northeast, Atlantic - northwest, Atlantic - southeast,
Atlantic - southwest, Atlantic - western central, Indian Ocean - Antarctic, Indian Ocean - eastern, Indian
Ocean - western, Mediterranean and Black Sea - , Pacific - eastern central, Pacific - northwest, Pacific southeast, Pacific - southwest, Pacific - western central
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Istiophorus platypterus – published in 2011.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170338A6754507.en
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Distribution Map
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Istiophorus platypterus – published in 2011.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170338A6754507.en
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Population
Sailfish are divided into stocks of the Western Atlantic, Eastern Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, Western Central
Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Atlantic Ocean
There are two stocks of Sailfish in the Atlantic: one in the western Atlantic, and one in the eastern
Atlantic. There is considerable uncertainty regarding the status of Atlantic Sailfish stocks, but most
models present clear evidence of overfishing and that stocks are overfished, more in the east than in the
west. The eastern stock is more productive than the western, probably providing greater maximum
sustainable yield (MSY). The eastern stock is probably suffering stronger overfishing and has been
reduced further below the level that would produce MSY than the western stock. Both eastern and
western stocks suffered greatest declines prior to 1990. Since 1990, trends in relative abundance conflict
between different indices, with some indices suggesting declines, other increases, and others not
showing a trend. Examination of length frequencies do not show changes in the average length or length
distribution (ICCAT 2009).
Using combined indices of relative abundance (Table 9, ICCAT 2009), both eastern and western Atlantic
Sailfish stocks appear to be stable or increasing over the three generation length period (13 years). The
combined indices were chosen over the biomass indices, as the population models which estimated
biomass were not considered to be a good fit to the available data. Overall, there is data uncertainty,
but the combined indices suggest no strong changes over the length of period examined. The greatest
declines in Atlantic Sailfish occurred prior to the three generation lengths.
Eastern Pacific Ocean
There has been no effort to assess the status of Sailfish or Spearfish species in a comprehensive manner
in the Pacific. There has been no stock assessment for the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP). Catches have
been fairly stable over the past 10–25 years at around 2,000 mts, however catches are likely higher than
reported given that they are grouped in billfishes. There has not been any real directed fishing for this
species recently. It is a very important sportfish in the ETP. There are some indications of localized
declines. Overall Sailfish abundance is 80% below the 1964 levels in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama
(Erhart and Fitchett 2006). Trophy fish sizes are 35% smaller than unexploited sizes (Erhard and Fitchett
2006).
Western Central Pacific
Data for sailfish are not routinely recorded, however, it is inferred that no significant declines are
occurring.
Indian Ocean
In the Indian Ocean, Sailfish landings are sometimes combined with other billfish species. The landing
information on Marlins and Sailfish for the whole Pacific Ocean is not available, except for the FAO
statistics which are not informative as the species are reported as a mixed group. There have been
reports of decline in sailfish in India and Iran (IOTC 2009), but no information is available on effort.
Catches in the Indian Ocean are generally thought to be increasing.
Current Population Trend: Unknown
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Istiophorus platypterus – published in 2011.
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Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)
This oceanic and epipelagic species is usually found above the thermocline to depths of 40 m. It is most
densely distributed in waters close to coasts and islands. This species occasionally forms schools or
smaller groups of 3–30 individuals but often occurs in loose aggregations over a wide area. It most likely
schools by size. This species undergoes spawning migrations in the Pacific (Nakamura 1985), and feeds
mainly on fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods.
Appears to spawn throughout the year in tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific with peak
spawning occurring in the respective local summer seasons. Spawning occurs with males and females
swimming in pairs or with two or three males chasing a single female (probably a mating behaviour).
Around Florida in the USA, this species often moves inshore into shallow waters where females,
swimming sluggishly with their dorsal fins extended and accompanied each by one or more males, may
spawn near the surface in the warm season. However, spawning in offshore waters beyond the 100
fathom isobath was also reported from south of Cuba to Carolina, USA. Off southeast Florida, a 33.4 kg
female may shed up to 4.8 million eggs in three batches during one spawning season.
This species has a fast growth rate. Using the best available data, longevity is estimated to be 13 years
and age of maturity 2.5 years (Prince et al. 1986, Ortiz et al. 2003, IUCN SSC Tuna and Billfishes Specialist
Group). No external sexual dimorphism, but females grow larger than males. Fecundity increases
sharply with size of the female (Nakamura 1985, de Sylva and Breder 1997, Richards and Luthy 2005,
Chiang et al. 2006, Wang et al. 2006). Using a longevity of 13 years and age of maturity of 2.5 years, the
generation length was estimated to be 4.3 years. The generation length is calculated as: age of first
reproduction + z * (longevity - age of first maturity), where z is 0.15 (Collette et al. 2011).
Sailfish grow larger in the Pacific than in the Atlantic. The all-tackle game fish record in the Pacific is of a
100.24 kg fish caught off Santa Cruz Island, Ecuador in 1947 while the largest sailfish from the Atlantic
was only 64 kg and was caught off Luanda, Angola in 1994 (IGFA 2011).
Systems: Marine
Use and Trade (see Appendix for additional information)
This species is mainly caught as bycatch, but also targeted in some fisheries.
Threats (see Appendix for additional information)
This is a commercial fish that is also caught as bycatch in the global long-line tuna fishery. It is also
accidentally caught by commercial fishermen with surface drift nets by trolling, harpooning and set
netting. It is most important as a sports fish. The flesh is dark red and not as good as that of marlin.
Sport fishing could pose a potential threat locally, especially as this species is found primarily near shore
and around islands.
The greatest catch rates in the world for sailfish occur in the Eastern Pacific ocean off Central America
where this species supports multi-million dollar sport fisheries (catch and release) (Erhart and Fitchett
2006). In the national long-line fisheries in Costa Rica, many of the fishes are discarded as the fisheries
are only allowed to bring in 15% of the catch as sailfish, so that catch are likely under reported. Costa
Rica dominates the catch in the Eastern Pacific. Recent catch per unit effort (CPUE) data from the
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Istiophorus platypterus – published in 2011.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170338A6754507.en
6
recreational fishery off of Central America has generated cause for concern (Kitchell et al. 2004).
In the Atlantic, this species is taken primarily by longline fisheries, but also by purse seines, and by some
artisanal gears which are the only fisheries targeting marlins (Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire) and also by various
sport fisheries located on both sides of the Atlantic. The increasing use of anchored fish aggregating
devices (FADs) by various artisanal and sport fisheries is increasing the vulnerability of these stocks.
Many assessment model results show evidence of overfishing, more so in the eastern than in the
western Atlantic stocks (STECF 2009).
Conservation Actions
This is a highly migratory species is listed in Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (FAO
Fisheries Department 1994).
Size limitations, encouragement of catch-and-release sport fishing, and recommendations for using
circle hooks instead of J-hooks are measures designed to increase survival in catch-and-release sport
fishing (Serafy et al. 2009). In some areas long-lining is restricted to protect populations of billfishes for
sports fishermen. The sports fisheries have mostly developed catch and release programmes rather than
keeping the fish. In Costa Rica, Sailfish cannot be targeted in commercial fisheries and can only be
landed as bycatch. Only 15% of catches are allowed to be sailfish, so some of the fish are discarded and
the catch is likely under reported.
The catch of Sailfish by Japan, Korea, and Taiwan include the catch of Spearfish, though species-specific
catch data are beginning to be collected in the Japanese longline fishery. It is probable that there may be
other source of bias in landing information. It is necessary to review and check the catch of billfish
country by country in detail (Uozumi 1999).
In the Atlantic, the International Commission fr the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas Standing Committee
on Research and Statistics (ICCAT-SCRS) in 2009 recommended that catches for the eastern stock should
be reduced from current levels. The Committee recommended that catches of the western stock of
sailfish should not exceed current levels. Any reduction in catch in the West Atlantic is likely to help
stock re-growth and reduce the likelihood that the stock is overfished. Artisanal fishermen harvest a
large part of the sailfish catch of the western sailfish stock. The ICCAT-SCRS is concerned about the
incomplete reporting of Sailfish catches, particularly for the most recent years, because it increases
uncertainty in stock status determination. The ICCAT-SCRS recommends all countries landing or having
dead discards of Sailfish, report these data to the ICCAT Secretariat (ICCAT 2009).
No ICCAT regulations for Sailfish are in effect, however, some countries have established domestic
regulations to limit the catch of Sailfish. Among these regulations are, requirement of releasing all
billfish from longline vessels, adoption of circle hooks, and catch and release strategies in sport fisheries
(ICCAT 2009). Regulations for the U.S., Bahamas and Bermuda include no commercial sale. The Mexican
government allows Sailfish to be taken only with sport fishing gear (de Guevara et al. 2011).
Credits
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Istiophorus platypterus – published in 2011.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170338A6754507.en
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Assessor(s):
Collette, B., Acero, A., Amorim, A.F., Boustany, A., Canales Ramirez, C., Cardenas,
G., Carpenter, K.E., de Oliveira Leite Jr., N., Di Natale, A., Die, D., Fox, W., Fredou,
F.L., Graves, J., Guzman-Mora, A., Viera Hazin, F.H., Hinton, M., Juan Jorda, M.,
Minte Vera, C., Miyabe, N., Montano Cruz, R., Nelson, R., Oxenford, H., Restrepo,
V., Salas, E., Schaefer, K., Schratwieser, J., Serra, R., Sun, C., Teixeira Lessa, R.P.,
Pires Ferreira Travassos, P.E., Uozumi, Y. & Yanez, E.
Reviewer(s):
Russell, B., Elfes, C. & Polidoro, B.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Istiophorus platypterus – published in 2011.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170338A6754507.en
8
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Ehrhardt, N.M. and Fitchett, M.D. 2006. On the Seasonal Dynamic Characteristics of the Sailfish,
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Garcia, S. 1994. World review of highly migratory species and straddling stocks. Rome.
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Citation
Collette, B., Acero, A., Amorim, A.F., Boustany, A., Canales Ramirez, C., Cardenas, G., Carpenter, K.E., de
Oliveira Leite Jr., N., Di Natale, A., Die, D., Fox, W., Fredou, F.L., Graves, J., Guzman-Mora, A., Viera Hazin,
F.H., Hinton, M., Juan Jorda, M., Minte Vera, C., Miyabe, N., Montano Cruz, R., Nelson, R., Oxenford, H.,
Restrepo, V., Salas, E., Schaefer, K., Schratwieser, J., Serra, R., Sun, C., Teixeira Lessa, R.P., Pires Ferreira
Travassos, P.E., Uozumi, Y. & Yanez, E. 2011. Istiophorus platypterus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2011: e.T170338A6754507. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20112.RLTS.T170338A6754507.en
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Istiophorus platypterus – published in 2011.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170338A6754507.en
10
Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.
External Resources
For Supplementary Material, and for Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the
Red List website.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Istiophorus platypterus – published in 2011.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170338A6754507.en
11
Appendix
Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Habitat
Season
Suitability
Major
Importance?
9. Marine Neritic -> 9.1. Marine Neritic - Pelagic
-
Suitable
-
10. Marine Oceanic -> 10.1. Marine Oceanic - Epipelagic (0-200m)
-
Suitable
-
Use and Trade
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
End Use
Local
National
International
Food - human
Yes
Yes
Yes
Sport hunting/specimen collecting
No
Yes
No
Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Threat
Timing
Scope
Severity
Impact Score
5. Biological resource use -> 5.4. Fishing & harvesting
aquatic resources -> 5.4.1. Intentional use:
(subsistence/small scale)
Ongoing
-
-
-
Stresses:
2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality
Ongoing
-
Stresses:
2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality
Ongoing
-
Stresses:
2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality
Ongoing
-
Stresses:
2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality
5. Biological resource use -> 5.4. Fishing & harvesting
aquatic resources -> 5.4.2. Intentional use: (large
scale)
5. Biological resource use -> 5.4. Fishing & harvesting
aquatic resources -> 5.4.3. Unintentional effects:
(subsistence/small scale)
5. Biological resource use -> 5.4. Fishing & harvesting
aquatic resources -> 5.4.4. Unintentional effects:
(large scale)
-
-
-
-
-
-
Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Istiophorus platypterus – published in 2011.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170338A6754507.en
12
Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends
1. Research -> 1.3. Life history & ecology
3. Monitoring -> 3.1. Population trends
3. Monitoring -> 3.2. Harvest level trends
Additional Data Fields
Distribution
Lower depth limit (m): 40
Upper depth limit (m): 0
Population
Population severely fragmented: No
Habitats and Ecology
Generation Length (years): 4.3
Movement patterns: Full Migrant
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Istiophorus platypterus – published in 2011.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T170338A6754507.en
13
The IUCN Red List Partnership
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.
The IUCN Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International;
Conservation International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of
Rome; Texas A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™