Should marlin mag ban images of dead billfish?

[Nick_Fuegi]

Ok. A little market research. Seems that a lot of people feel that killing billfish is no longer acceptable under any circumstances.

So. A little market research...
Do you think our favourite publication should stop printing images of dead billfish? (Except in articles about conservation).

Please post yes/no answer with explanation.

I'll nail my colours to the mast and say that I think: Yes Marlin mag should ban images of dead billfish.
There are only three reasons left to kill a billfish. One is for profit. Two is for a photo. The other is for a record.

By not printing any images of dead billfish, Marlin mag will make the photo option less attractive. Indeed, if it is generally unfashinable, or even stigmatised to have ones photo taken with billfish that are out of the water, the practice will decline. This has to be good for the fish.

Please also see thread on whether the IGFA's requirement for fish to be weighed causes billfish to be killed:
http://www.marlinmag.com/forum.jsp?ID=558199

Nick

[marlinhunter2]

I noticed you're overwhelmed with answers to this question.

Yes is my answer. Dead fish happen, whether it was intentional or not. But, to publish photos of hanging bills is bad for sportfishing industry. Sport fishing = catch and release. You can't revive an already dead and dried out bill hanging like a piece of meat in a locker plant. It's not gonna happen. With the advent of digital cameras, it's far easier to take a quick shot of a bill alongside the boat, then to yank it up over the gunnel and expect it to live.

[Nick_Fuegi]

Yeah it's funny. Was expecting a lot of empassioned views on this one. Surprised by that lack of comments so far. Thanks for yours.

Nick

[Warren_Brantley]

MARLIN is "The International Sportfishing Magazine" and within that community exists an extremely diverse group of participants. Through travel I know that at some locations it is quite acceptable to keep a billfish for market. It's the norm for local fisherman, although American boats may release all billfish. That is the difference between making living and not needing the income. In other locations, including my local one, only a few tournament billfish are killed each year; those with high end trophy value or potential tournament winners. These tend to be areas where billfish have been decimated by US fisherman (commercial and sport)during prior decades. For example, there is a $1 million prize for an IGFA caught Blue (exceeding the present state record) for the upcoming Memorial Day Tournmanent in Orange Beach, Alabama. (And personally if one of my sons or I catch it I can tell you that it has breathed its last breath and shall hang from the gallows.) Pictures of dead fish, or live ones, will have no impact on the world populations of billfish. When one week of netting billfish kills 1500 Blues in March of 2005 off one of my favorite fisheries I dare say they were not concerned about what any of us think. The majority of the captains billfishing will continue with practices and protocol to which they have become accustomed. Such is the habit of humans. Respects, WGB

[Adrian_Graham]

There will be times when there is a good reason for showing pictures of a dead fish, and there will be times when it is not appropriate, just as there are occasions when a fish will be killed and other (hopefully FAR more often), where it will not. A blanket ban is rarely a good idea, whereas using good judgement is always a good idea; the magazine should treat each instance on its own merit and, taking all things into account, make a decision.

[Nick_Fuegi]

Adrian,
Sounds like your views are similar to my own. Ban images of dead billfish except within articles on conservation?

Nick

[Linwood]

Since Marlin Magazine has no part in deciding whether to keep or release most of the Billfish in its articles and sources other than what the editor/s decide; I say go ahead and show the pics. Most tackle manufacturers that support catch and release simply express their view in a statement and let it go at that.
We who subscribe to Marlin are aware that you support catch and release.Publishing a picture of a tournament winning fish or a nice fatty destined to become food or profit does not offend me.

[Nick_Fuegi]

Would you be offended if the images of dead fish were not there?

[Linwood]

Of course I would be disappointed if there no fish hanging at Bimini, within shouting distance from the bar.After dark ;getting ready to feed the people.Angler and boat crew with drinks in their hands.Some beautifil women.Or better yet,lay out the day`s catch for the fleet and see what a drop in the bucket it is;compared to 45 years ago.Hang `em high Marlin;dead fish are a captain`s delight.He get`s a fee for keeping one.That`s the way it should be anyway.Tell your client`s it is a two thousand dollar handling fee per Billfish taken.That would cut down on landings.

[Nick_Fuegi]

I guess you're right and it all comes down to money. When people can earn a buck from killing something, they'll kill it. If there's money in showing it, they'll show it.
Some people actually do kill their own family for relatively small amounts of money. With 6.5Bn people on the planet and rising towards 9.5Bn by 2050, you don't need a very large proportion of them to believe that nothing is sacred when the scent of green is in the air, to leave the world in a sorry state.
No wonder there are so many endangered species...

So, how does one disincentivise killing billfish? Do you ban the offer of a price on their head like the one you mention? Or, do you rely on anglers themselves to have a strong enough concience to turn down the $1m and let the fish swim?

Tough one.

Interestingly, Rick Alvarez mentions a new global recreational release policy from 2007. Check this link and read posts on/around 05/02/06. Here's the link: http://www.marlinmag.com/forum.jsp?ID=556164

[wavydave]

All photos from Costa Rica should show nice live ones. Catch and release is the law here along with kinder circle hooks.