Published by The Billfish Foundation Issue No.8 SailfiTeens’ Take on Billfish ConservaST i oh n All About billfish What makes them so alluring? Ocean conservation Profiles Jamie & scott Mcsherry anD Macky Pesch A Billfish ConservAtion MAgAzine for Young Adults at Home in In thIs Issue the Oceans Billfish by elliott stark Species of billfish are found in the Atlantic, As murkier, greener water limits their Pacific, and Indian Oceans. In fact, just visibility and impedes the way in which they 6 about anywhere in the world where warm hunt, billfish generally prefer clear, lucid waters are found it is likely too that billfish waters far from shore. The importance of 3 Angler Profile will be there. How is it that species of eyesight to the species of swordfish and Billfish in Macky marlin, sailfish, spearfish, and swordfish can blue marlin are proven by a special inhabit so much of the world’s oceans? physiological adaptation that helps them the Ocean Pesch There are many ways to begin to answer regulate the temperature of their brain and by Elliott Stark by Peter Chaibongsai this question, a number of them complex eyes when in cold water (waters of great and scientific. There are also a few simple depth are often cold, even in tropical areas ways, involving a bit of background and of the ocean). This “brain and eye heater” intuition, that can give us indications about allows the fish’s eyes and brain to continue how billfish live and why they are so well to operate optimally while hunting for food adapted to their open ocean environments. or travelling to deep, cold waters that would 5 otherwise slow their brain and eye function. back Cover What YOU can do Billfish Background: Summer Reading cOunTershading: The business end of a billfish. This picture was to Help the Oceans The Open Ocean envirOnmenT Billfish are typical of other fish in the oceans taken as a sailfish is being released. This is Great reads for Whether it be the black marlin of the Pacific in the ways in which they are colored. the view seen by prey as they try to escape being on the menu. Photo credit: Laurent Cherubin Part 4 summer days and Indian Oceans, Pacific or Atlantic Looking at a fish from above, the dark blues by Peter Chaibongsai species of blue marlin, or sailfish species of the top of a marlin or sailfish are above. Within the open ocean, each of these which can be found throughout the tropical absorbed in the blue darkness of the ocean. abilities is important to the survival of fish. regions of the world’s oceans, billfish If you were swimming underwater and species are apex predators occupying looked at a billfish from below, the whites hydrOdynamics: upper levels of the open ocean food chains. and silvers of the fish’s stomach seem to Have you ever tried running in the ocean? 6 The vast expansiveness of the world’s dissipate into the brightness of the sky Water is much denser than air, a Angler Profile on the Cover oceans make the wide distribution of billfish above. This coloration pattern is known as characteristic that could turn even the Sailfish acrobatics amazing. The oceans cover about 71% of counter shading. Looking at pictures of fish sprinting of Olympic athletes into an Jamie and Scott of different species-- from sharks, tunas, awkward, slow ordeal. As fish live in the Photo courtesy of the Earth’s surface. Average ocean depth is McSherry nearly 2.4 miles. In terms of geographical billfish, and wahoo-- this coloration pattern oceans, their ability to glide through its fluid George Beckwith area, the coverage of billfish species is is employed by many species of ocean fish medium is of great importance. To these by Chic McSherry impressive. and even whales. ends many marine fish have fusiform body shapes (spindle or torpedo shaped, having As a general rule, billfish occupy warm, a broad middle that tapers on both ends). In tropical and subtropical waters. They are a marine world where the source of the next We would like to extend our gratitude to the Fleming Family Foundation, the most often found in clear, deep waters far meal is always an uncertain proposition, fish from shore. As these waters are removed Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation, and the the William H. and Mattie Wattis Harris Foundation swimming through the oceans try to from the nutrient sources associated with for their belief in education as an important conservation tool. TBF, parents, educators and maximize the efficiency and speed of their land, the waters are clear. Because the blue travel, while minimizing the amount of the fish are grateful for their generous grants that made this issue of sailfish possible. and violet spectra of light furthest penetrate energy expended. clear deep water, these waters appear blue to the human eye. The greens and browns For highly migratory species, like tuna and of more coastal, inshore waters often result marlin, that may swim thousands of miles from the inflows of rivers and run off from over their lifetimes, even the smallest land. The appearance of green in the water reductions in drag or friction can be greatly column reflects the presence of chlorophyll, Countershading in action. This Pacific Blue important. For this reason, many species of marlin blends into his ocean environment. Join on the pigment that makes plants green, in fish have inset grooves into which they can Photo credit: Lauren Miller phytoplankton in the water. Just like trees fold their fins when they are swimming. The and grass on land, phytoplankton and other This pattern provides the same sort of marine plants require nutrients and sunlight camouflage that a whitetail deer’s coat to function. As billfish utilize keen eyesight provides it in fall leaves and the leopard’s do you know any individual, to hunt, they prefer clear waters. This spots provide it in the savannahs of Africa. organization or school who would The Billfish Foundation is now on Facebook. Add us as a friend so makes sense intuitively. Those who Countershading helps break up fish’s like to copies of Sailfish? you can be the first to know the latest in TBF news. please join our snorkel or scuba dive quickly discover silhouette from predators which may be have them contact us Cause as well… and recruit your friends to join too! how even small changes in water clarity lurking below and allows them to stealthily at [email protected] can affect visibility. ambush potential prey items swimming Copyright 2010 The Billfish Foundation• Editors: Peter Chaibongsai & Elliott Stark • Graphic Design: Jackie Marsolais 3 elongated nasal bones. And like the pretzels above that have figured out we like to eat them, it does not take small tuna or dolphin What YOU can fish very long to learn the purpose of a marlin’s bill. Upon attacking something it do to help wants to eat, a billfish will often use its bill to immobilize prey and make it easier to consume. the ocean . by peter chaibongsai By striking the fish or school of fish in a windshield-wiper like fashion, a billfish As we celebrated Earth Day and World Ocean Day, we focused on what you attempts to convert elusive, agile small fish can do to lessen the plastic pollution in the ocean. Why is plastic bad for the bent on escape into stationary, ready-to-eat ocean? Plastic debris is a major problem on the beach and ocean where it meals. In this way, the marlin’s bill performs makes up a majority of the litter encountered. the same function as the teeth of a shark. Though marlin do not take bites out of fish This striped marlin is not only fighting before his release, but has folded Plastic is a major problem due to the fact it does not biodegrade and lingers too large for them to swallow whole, some down his dorsal fin to decrease drag. Photo credit: Travis Dorland in the ocean forever. The worst part is plastic goes through a process called species of sharks are known to attack the The fastest fish in the sea, sailfish are acrobatic fighters as well. Notice the tall, thin, lunated tail that photo degradation, where the sunlight breaks down the plastic polymers and imparts speed and power. Photo credit Mike Viljoen tails of large fish to impede the prey’s ability Aspect Ratio. The Aspect ratio is defined as the height of the makes the plastic looks like to escape. By immobilizing the prey, the tail squared divided by the tail’s surface area. The higher the pellets or food for numerous large dorsal fin that gives the sailfish its special helmets and suits to reduce wind shark reduces its risk of injury when aspect ratio-- or the taller and narrower the tail-- the faster organisms. Various animals name is folded down atop its back when drag. Olympic swimmers often shave their consuming large meals and decreases the the fish will swim. Billfish have some of the highest aspect from microscopic plankton the fish is traveling. The pectoral fins of arms and legs and wear drag-reducing suits amount of energy needed to feed. ratios of all fish. In fact, with the ability to swim more than 65 to large marine animals like bluefin tuna are folded into the grooves and hats to make their gliding through the Biologists, in describing the characteristics miles per hour, the sailfish is considered to be the fastest fish sea lions and turtles can along its side when making its migrations water as efficient as possible.