Fishing News
Anglers worried proposed white marlin ban may affect other fish
By the Associated Press
PANAMA CITY -- A proposal to list white marlin as an endangered species has sports anglers worried they would effectively be barred from trying to catch other billfish.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is considering the proposal because the white marlin is continuing to dwindle in number. The agency is scheduled in September to decide whether to begin formal rule-making that could lead to the listing.
The problem is that other species, including blue marlin, wahoo, tuna and dolphin fish, swim with white marlin and go after the same bait, say fishermen and fishing tournament officials.
"The absolute worst thing anybody could do is list this species," said Bob Zales, a Panama City charter boat captain, who serves on national and international advisory panels on billfish and other migratory species.
A white marlin caught accidentally could amount to an illegal "take" under the Endangered Species Act, but there is no way to target other open-water fish to prevent the from happening, said Bill Spann, chairman of the Bay Point Invitational Billfish Tournament.
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