Istiophorus
albicans
(Latreille, 1804)
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Family:
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Istiophoridae
(Billfishes)
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ccfishery.net
AquaMaps |
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Order:
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Perciformes
(perch-likes)
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Class:
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Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
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In this site name:
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Atlantic sailfish |
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Max. size:
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315 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 43); max. published weight: 58.1 kg (Ref. 43) |
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Environment: |
pelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); marine; depth range 0 – 200 m
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Climate: |
subtropical; 21 – 28°C; 49°N - 43°S, 99°w - 30°e |
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Importance:
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fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes |
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Resilience: |
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.29-1.2 (?); tm=3.5) |
Distribution:
www.ccfishery.net
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Atlantic Ocean: 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. Migrating to Mediterranean Sea, mostly based on juvenile specimens. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea (Ref. 26139). Some authors recognize a single worldwide species, Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw 1792) but we follow Nakamura 1990 (Ref. 10820) retaining the usage of Istiophorus platypterus for the Indo-Pacific sailfish and Istiophorus albicans for the Atlantic sailfish in recognition of differences between them.
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Morphology:
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Dorsal
spines
(total): 0 - 0;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 48 - 53;
Anal
spines: 0;
Anal
soft rays: 9 – 12;
Vertebrae: 24
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Biology: |
Usually found in the upper layers of warm water above the thermocline, but also capable of descending to rather deep water. Often migrates into near-shore waters. Occasionally forms schools or smaller groups of 3 to 30 individuals, but often occurs in loose aggregations over a wide area. Feeds mainly on small pelagic fishes but also takes bottom-dwelling organisms. Utilized fresh, canned and frozen; eaten steamed (Ref. 9987).
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Red List Status: |
