New Research Publications | Exciting Science from the 7th Annual International Billfish Symposium
Co-hosted by the IGFA and Wild Oceans at Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute
Since its inception in Kona, Hawaii in 1972, the International Billfish Symposium Series has emerged as the leading global forum where researchers, fishery managers, and anglers collaborate to share cutting-edge science and set conservation priorities for marlin, sailfish, spearfish, and swordfish.
The 7th International Billfish Symposium marked a milestone as the most successful event to date. Co-hosted by the IGFA and Wild Oceans, the event convened more than 100 leading billfish scientists, fisheries managers, and anglers from nine nations for three days of oral presentations, poster sessions, and panel discussions, held from October 8 to 11, 2024. These panels explored critical topics, including billfish movement and habitat utilization, biological and fisheries data, and socio-economic dimensions of management. The research presented culminated in ten peer-reviewed articles published in a dedicated Proceedings Issue of the ICES Journal of Marine Science, an achievement made possible through the support of the IGFA, Wild Oceans, and Symposium sponsors.
Click here for an overview of the Symposium, which was themed “Advancing science and management of billfish in a changing ecosystem."
Published throughout 2025, these ten papers represent critical research topics for billfish, their fisheries, and global management needs, spanning foraging ecology, population genetics, and movement ecology to age and growth, bycatch, and fishery dynamics. Notably, IGFA Conservation Director, Dr. Bruce Pohlot, and IGFA Conservation Programs Manager, Jackson Martinez, both led studies that were included in the Symposium proceedings:
Click here to check out the rest of the publications from the Symposium.
It is clear that the global angling, research, and management community is invested in the future of billfish conservation. As we move into the next phase of billfish research and management, the science presented during the 7th International Billfish Symposium will be used to advance research programs and ask new conservation questions for the future of billfish.
The IGFA would like to thank the sponsors that helped the Symposium come to fruition, especially this year’s Grand Sponsors, the MidAtlantic Tournament/South Jersey Marina and NOAA Fisheries. We would also like to thank our Location Sponsor at Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute. Additional sponsors include Costa Sunglasses, Wildlife Computers, Yamaha Rightwaters, YETI, Center for Sportfishing Policy, Lotek, and the Presidential Challenge Charitable Foundation, Inc.
