U.S. Virgin Islands Territorial Fish
Blue Marlin (common name) Makaira nigricans (scientific name) Overview One of the world’s most prized sport and commercial fish, the marlin is a very large predatory fish of the deep ocean. It is blue-black in color above and silvery white below. It has a very long, thin bill (comprising 20 percent of its length); very long, spiked dorsal fins that can form a fan; and a wide, forked tail. Females are up to four times larger than males. Marlins are extremely powerful swimmers that migrate in warmer seasons to follow their prey. They can also undertake long, one-way or round-trip migrations between the Caribbean Islands and Venezuela and West Africa. Close-up STATUS Unofficial PHYSICAL DETAILS Length: Up to 13 ft (4 m) Weight: Males: Up to 350 lbs (60 kg) Females: Up to 1,200 lbs (540 kg) LIFESPAN Up to 18 years for males and 27 years for females HABITAT Temperate blue water ocean and off coastal shelves. Water type: Saltwater Water temp: Approximately 71-87°F (22-31°C) Conservation Status: Least concern (LC). The blue marlin is not listed as a threatened species by the IUCN, although commercial fishing is taking a serious toll on the fish. Commercial vessels are supposed to return marlins that are improperly caught within 200 miles (320 km) of the U.S. coastline. DIET Fish (mackerel, tuna, pomfret, snipefish, mahi-mahi) and squid. REPRODUCTION Fertilization: External Spawning frequency: July–September in the North Atlantic and February–March in the South Atlantic. Mating behavior: Multiple mates Egg laying: The marlin spawns in warm ocean currents where each female lays 1 million tiny, spherical white/yellow eggs, which float freely for a week before hatching. Adults do not guard the eggs or young. USES Commercial fish, sport fish OTHER NAMES Cuban black marlin, ocean gar, billfish, blue marlin, aguja, espadim TRIVIA The Atlantic blue marlin’s scientific name is derived from the Greek word machaira, which means "sword," and nigricans, which means "becoming black" in Latin. In Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, a fisherman in a small boat battles a huge Atlantic blue marlin for three days off the coast of Cuba before he lands it, only to have it eaten by sharks before he can return to shore with it.
	Click to enlarge an image Illustration of Blue Marlin Blue Marlin American Author Ernest Hemingway with Four Marlins CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Perciformes Family: Istiophoridae Genus: Makaira Species: M. nigricans
	Raw Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press