Analysis of Big Game Fishing Catches of Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans) in the Madeira Archipelago (Eastern Atlantic) and Factors that Affect Its Presence

Abstract

The archipelago of Madeira (Portugal) is one of the main European big game fishing locations, where the main target species is the blue marlin (Makaira nigricans). Catch data for these fish were used to analyze their presence over the years, estimate their average weights, and calculate annual fishing success rates. The results showed a marked seasonal effect, with higher average catch rates in summer (June–July), suggesting a migration from the equatorial waters they inhabit at the beginning of the year to northern areas when the waters become warmer. The influences of some environmental factors were analyzed using generalized additive models, and it was observed that the occurrence of blue marlin may be influenced by water temperature, wind, rain, and atmospheric pressure. This fishery did not register a high mortality rate in blue marlin specimens due to the usual practice of catch and release; individuals captured in this fishery can be used as a source of information that allows for follow-up on the status of the blue marlin population in the region.

Economic contribution and social welfare of recreational charter boat fisheries in the northeast Atlantic: The cases of Galicia (Spain) and Madeira archipelago (Portugal)

“…In Galicia we interviewed owners and skippers of 10 charter fishing boats belonging to 7 companies, which represents all the recreational fishing companies based in Galicia. In Madeira, we interviewed owners and skippers of 18 boats of a total of 20 currently operating in Madeira, belonging to the 14 companies, mainly based in Funchal and Calheta (Martinez-Escauriaza et al, 2021).…”

“…There are also some relevant charter boat fisheries in temperate waters, e.g., in Australia (Lynch et al, 2020) and North America (Steinback, 1999;Lew and Larson, 2015). In Europe, charter boat fishing is a relatively important economic activity in the Mediterranean (Öndes et al, 2020) and in the Atlantic archipelagos of Canary, Madeira, and Azores islands (Leoń et al, 2003;Vieira and Antunes, 2017;Diogo et al, 2020;Martinez-Escauriaza et al, 2021). However, in the Atlantic continental coast of Southern Europe there are relatively few companies dedicated to charter boat fishing.…”

“…The case of Madeira archipelago, in the Macaronesia region, is very different in terms of charter boat fishing, since it is one of the best-known places in the world to practice big game fishing (Martinez-Escauriaza et al, 2021). The Madeira archipelago consists of two main inhabited islands (Madeira, and Porto Santo), and two other uninhabited islands (Desertas and Selvagens islands), with some adjacent islets.…”

“…The local population also shows a relevant participation in recreational angling (Martıńez-Escauriaza et al, 2020). The main threat to the continuity of recreational charter boat fishing companies comes from the high tourist pressure that can reduce the benefits derived from the stay for visitors who value natural environments the most (Oliveira and Pereira, 2008;Almeida et al, 2014;Almeida, 2016), and the impacts of different fisheries along the wide distribution ranges of the targeted fish stocks, mostly large and vulnerable oceanic top predators (Martinez-Escauriaza et al, 2021).…”

Small-scale fisheries in Madeira: recreational vs artisanal fisheries

“…However, a large overlap of species was observed between the two fisheries, and only five species caught in recreational fishing were not detected in the landings from artisanal fishery. The species absent in the artisanal catches were the non-indigenous species (D. labrax and S. aurata), marlins (mainly M. nigricans and T. albidus) captured by the big game fishing fleet (Martínez-Escauriaza et al 2021) and garfish (B. belone). Intensive monitoring and biological studies are needed to evaluate the state of the stocks, in addition to reproductive, growth and other life history characteristics of the main target species.…”