Indo-Pacific sailfish  (Istiophorus platypterus)

The Indo-Pacific sailfish is fished by both commercial fisheries and sport anglers, and also taken as bycatch by commercial tuna longliners (2).While this species has a high reproductive output (4), its population is likely to have been affected by overexploitation (6).

Conservation organisations such as the Billfish Foundation are playing a vital role in promoting sustainable fishing practices for the Indo-Pacific sailfish and other species of billfish worldwide (7). Although this species is a highly popular gamefish, sport fishing is well regulated in most areas, and returning hooked fish to the water is widely practiced (4). Indeed, anglers and scientists are working in concert to learn more about this species by tagging recreational catches and reporting them to a central database (4) (6). In addition, conservationists, and an increasing number of sport anglers, are discouraging the serving of sailfish meat in restaurants (4).