Length-weight relationships adopted by the SCRS for major Billfish species: White marlin (WHM) (Tetrapturusalbidus), Blue marlin (BUM) (Makaira nigricans), Sailfish (SAI) (Istiophorus albicans), Longbill spearfish (SPF)(Tetrapturus pfluegeri).
Spp.

Area

WHM

Atl.

BUM

Atl.

SAI

Atl.

SPF

Atl.

Sex
Male
FemaleCombined
MaleFemale
Combined
Male
FemaleCombined
Combined

Relationship 1
RWT = 1.9556 x 10-5 LJFL 2.7487
RWT = 3.9045 x 10-6 LJFL 3.0694
RWT = 5.2068 x 10-6 LJFL 3.0120
RWT = 2.4682 x 10-6 LJFL 3.2243
RWT = 1.9034 x 10-6 LJFL 3.2842
RWT = 1.1955 x 10-6 LJFL 3.3663
RWT = 1.6922 x 10-6 LJFL 3.1879
RWT = 1.1441 x 10-6 LJFL 3.2683
RWT = 1.2869 x 10-6 LJFL 3.2439
RWT = 2.7 x 10-5 LJFL2.6

Reference
Prager et al. (1995)

Prager et al. (1995)

Prager et al. (1995)
Witzell (1989)

n1719
3149
4868
1978
3267
5245
907
1280
2187
34

L range (cm)
96.0-195.5
91.4-205.0
91.4-205.0
23.0-378.5
23.0-277.0
23.0-378.5
27.1-188.0
27.1-204.5
27.1-204.5
85-195

1 Weights in Kg and lengths are in cm.
DWT = Dressed Weight (gilled, gutted, part of head off, fins off)
GWT = Gilled and Gutted
RWT = Round Weight (all catch statistics are maintained in RWT units)
FL = Fork length
EYFL = Eye fork length
LJFL = Lower jaw fork length

References
Prager, M. H., Prince, E. D. and Lee, D. W. 1995. Empirical length and weight conversion equations for blue marlin,
white marlin, and sailfish from the North Atlantic Ocean. Bulletin of Marine Science, 56: 201-210.
Witzell, W. N. 1989. Longbill spearfish, Tetrapturus pfluegeri , incidentally caught by recreational billfishermen in thewestern North Atlantic Ocean, 1974-86. Fishery Bulletin, 87: 982-984.

Length and weight conversion factors adopted by the SCRS for major billfish species
Spp.

WHM

AreaAtl.

SexFemale
Male
CombinedFemale
Male
Combined
FemaleMale
Combined
FemaleMale
CombinedFemale
Male
CombinedFemale
Male
Combined
Combined

Relationship 1
LJFL = 5.923 + TL x 0.731
LJFL = 18.664 + TL x 0.667
LJFL = -0.720 + TL x -0.760
LJFL = 96.462 + PAL x 1.231
LJFL = 103.501 + PAL x 1.100
LJFL = 108.00 + PAL x 1.000
LJFL = 9.400 + PFL x 1.280
LJFL = 26.000 + PFL x 1.133
LJFL = 13.572 + PFL x 1.242
LJFL = 48.834 + PDL x 1.278
LJFL = 53.316 + PDL x 1.211
LJFL = 39.250 + PDL x 1.375
LJFL = 14.743 + EOFL x 1.061
LJFL = 9.581 + EOFL x 1.097
LJFL = 15.444 + EOFL x 1.056
LJFL = 29.184 + DFL x 1.053
LJFL = 14.539 + DFL x 1.154
LJFL = 13.834 + DFL x 1.167
DWT = 1.20 x RWT

Reference

Prager et al. (1995)

ICCAT Manual 1990

n51
65
127
105
123272
188
172
424
127
121
294
65
30102
75
47
129-L range (cm)190-245130-235130-280
40-66
40-85
35-85
92-14580-18080-18072-11568-11065-115128-165
115-160
115-165
115-150
105-150
105-150
1

BUM

SAI

Atl.

Atl.

FemaleMale
Combined
FemaleMale
Combined
FemaleMale
Combined
FemaleMale
Combined
FemaleMale
Combined
FemaleMale
Combined
Combined

LJFL = -3.563 + TL x 0.784
LJFL = 19.182 + TL x 0.691
LJFL = 2.000 + TL x -0.763
LJFL = 19.464 + PAL x 2.707
LJFL = 93.600 + PAL x 1.600
LJFL = 61.656 + PAL x 2.156
LJFL = 9.725 + PFL x 1.252
LJFL = 14.651 + PFL x 1.209
LJFL = 7.696 + PFL x 1.261
LJFL = 17.419 + PDL x 1.726
LJFL = 36.500 + PDL x 1.500
LJFL = 9.836 + PDL x 1.772
LJFL = 10.000 + EOFL x 1.091
LJFL = 9.095 + EOFL x 1.095
LJFL = 8.887 + EOFL x 1.096
LJFL = 10.254 + DFL x 1.198
LJFL = 4.302 + DFL x 1.231
LJFL = 7.152 + DFL x 1.212
DWT = 1.20 x RWTFemale
Male
Combined
FemaleMale
Combined
FemaleMale
Combined
FemaleMale
Combined
FemaleMale
Combined
FemaleMale
Combined
Combined

LJFL = 32.188 + TL x 0.623
LJFL = 21.961 + TL x 0.657
LJFL = 18.171 + TL x -0.686
LJFL = 120.170 + PAL x 0.798
LJFL = 111.175 + PAL x 0.907
LJFL = 107.196 + PAL x 0.999
LJFL = 36.766 + PFL x 1.025LJFL = 34.211 + PFL x 1.043
LJFL = 29.441 + PFL x 1.083
LJFL = 44.570 + PDL x 1.268
LJFL = 19.074 + PDL x 1.526
LJFL = 38.322 + PDL x 1.332
LJFL = 18.235 + EOFL x 1.015
LJFL = 21.707 + EOFL x 0.987
LJFL = 11.240 + EOFL x 1.076
LJFL = 39.104 + DFL x 0.951
LJFL = 1.555 + DFL x 1.221
LJFL = 38.438 + DFL x 0.958
DWT = 1.20 x RWTPrager et al. (1995)

ICCAT Manual 1990

Prager et al. (1995)

ICCAT Manual 1990

69153258123249453
243
387
732
140
276
482
113
104
250
115
125
271-

250-490200-33030-50034-12035-9030-12080-270100-22065-28085-19066-15060-190130-300
135-210120-300
125-280
115-200
100-280
-83
52
142
652
455
1553
728
484
1810
113
42
330
58
27
251
59
21252-

120-260
110-245
40-27030-90
35-8030-10075-17590-15075-18055-12075-11055-12085-175105-155
85-17575-165110-145
75-165-

1 Length measurement types:
TL: Total length;
PAL: Pectoral-anus length;
PFL: Pectoral-fork length;
PDL: Pectoral-second dorsal length;
EOFL: Eye orbit-fork length;
DFL: Dorsal-fork length;
DWT: Dressed weight.

References
Prager, M. H., Prince, E. D. and Lee, D. W. 1995. Empirical length and weight conversion equations for blue marlin,
white marlin, and sailfish from the North Atlantic Ocean. Bulletin of Marine Science, 56: 201-210.

2

Conversion factors for fish products adopted by the SCRS for major Billfish species
Spp.
WHM
BUM
SAI

Area/Source
Any
Any
Any

Factor 1
RWT = 1.20 x DWT
RWT = 1.20 x DWT
RWT = 1.20 x DWTReference?
?
?

1 Product types:
BM = Belly Meat
DWT = Dressed Weight (gilled, gutted, part of head off, fins off)
FIL = Fillet Weight
GWT = Gilled and Gutted
RWT = Round Weight (all catch statistics are maintained in RWT units)
OT = Other3