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Sailfish

Using their iconic sail-like fin, sailfish can rapidly pursue prey before delivering a powerful strike with their long bill to stun or kill it. 

 

Sailfish are found throughout temperate and tropical waters around the world, preferring relatively shallow waters close to islands and coastlines. Their “sail” is actually a dorsal fin that can be folded down when swimming to reduce drag from the water. Their bodies are extremely long and flat with a long flat bill that extends very far in front of their heads – much like that of a swordfish. These large fish grow to an average length of 1.4 meters (4.6 feet), although individuals can be up to 1.6 meters (5.3 feet) long. Sailfish have a dark blue back, light blue and brown sides, and a silvery white belly. The contrast between their dark blue back and light underside is a form of camouflage known as countershading that helps sailfish to blend into the ocean. 

Sailfish are often seen together, occasionally forming schools or loose groups. They are known to communicate with each other based on visual signals, such as moving their sail or “flashing” their body colors to each other. These fish typically hunt in groups as well, working together to force schools of fish to the surface to make them easier to pick off. Their tall sail is thought to increase their stability and help herd prey together during these hunts. When it’s time to attack, sailfish use a swift turn of their long bill to stun or kill the smaller fish. Research indicates that even though sailfish hunt together, only one will attack at a time, possibly to avoid injuring each other when slashing with their bill. 

 

 

Sailfish are primarily threatened by overfishing, specifically with limited data about the population and the maximum sustainable yield being unknown for the Eastern Pacific and Western Central Pacific. Additionally, sailfish are often caught incidentally as bycatch. These threats have led to them being considered “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List. 

 

 

As sailfish undergo great migrations, it is difficult to instate conservation actions as some countries have domestically passed laws regulating their capture limits. However, important work is still being done to address overfishing that affects these sailfish. Oceana campaigns to stop overfishing and promote responsible fishing practices that reduce bycatch—something that majorly threatens this vulnerable sailfish species.  

 

 

  • IUCN Red List 
  • Fishbase 
  • Beardsley G, Merret, N & Richards,W (1972) Synopsis of the Biology of the Sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus (Shaw and Nodder 1791). In: NOAA Technical Report NMFS SSRF – 675, Part 3. Seattle, WA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  
  • Animal Diversity 
  • Domenici P, et al. (2014) How sailfish use their bills to capture schooling prey. The Royal Society Publishing Volume 281 doi: 10.1098/rspb.2014.0444. 

 

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