Billfish

The term "billfish" is applied to a number of different large, predatory fish such as marlin and swordfish. Billfish are important apex predators feeding on a wide variety of smaller fish and cephalopods.

Exploitation and conservation

Because each fish is large and the meat is firm and tasty, billfish are subject to intense fisheries pressure, and in many places where they were formely abundant they are now comparatively rare. They are also popular with anglers, and major sport fisheries target these species, for example off the Atlantic coast of Florida. Sport fisherman and conservationists now work together to gather information on billfish stocks and implement programs such as catch and release, whereby fish are returned to the sea after they have been caught.

External link

• Family Istiophoridae at Fishbase.org
• Family Xiphiidae at Fishbase.org
• The Billfish Foundation