The Billfish Logbook Programme is a long-running fisher-led project that tracks New Zealand’s striped marlin fishery. Skippers targeting marlin keep a record of their catch. These records measure changes in the fishery, which helps to ensure its sustainability.

Why it matters

The New Zealand recreational catch rate is one of only two measures used in the regional stock assessment of our striped marlin population. Records fishers provide in the Billfish Logbook Programme are critical to assessing how the fishery is managed. The programme has run since 2006–07, taking over from an original annual survey that began in the 1970s. Together, they provide 50 years of information on marlin catch rates. 

What’s involved

Participation is voluntary. It is open to charter vessel operators and private skippers who target marlin 10 or more days each year.

• Keep a daily logbook for each day spent targeting billfish, recording hours fished, billfish strikes, what is caught, and whether it is landed or tagged and released.
• Note a few details for each trip, such as location, water temperature, wind, and fishing method.
• Record other gamefish, like blue and black marlin, swordfish, spearfish, tuna, and mako shark.

The programme is moving from the traditional paper logbook to a phone app, making it easier for skippers to record and submit their catch and effort while out on the water.

Why we need long-term commitment

Catch rates are affected by various factors, including each skipper’s level of experience, the type of vessel used, the area fished, the season and weather, and by the number of marlin present. Consistent records over a number of seasons allow scientists to account for these and other influences, and then to identify genuine changes in marlin abundance. Records from every trip, including those trips with no catch, help build an accurate picture of the fishery and support its sustainable management.

Your data is protected

Your specific fishing locations are confidential. This information is only used for scientific analysis: no fishing ‘hotspots’ or localised catch maps are published. Location data is grouped into broad regions (e.g. East Northland vs. Bay of Plenty). All data is treated as commercially sensitive under the Privacy Act 2020 and the research agreement with MPI. Access is restricted to the Billfish research team and to authorised Fisheries New Zealand scientists.

How to join

If you’re interested in joining the Billfish Logbook Programme, please email us at support@ecatch.co.nz or call (03) 470 1414.