Happy Migratory Fish Day!

• There are several species of fish that migrate as part of their daily activities, some travel extraordinary distances, this is the case of the striped marlin, which travels long distances at 100 km per hour. 

What do we call a migratory fish?

According to ichthyology, the branch of zoology that studies fish, migratory fish are those that change their habitat regularly, and generally make long-distance migrations that occur over varying periods of time. Some species migrate only once a year; however, others make more frequent long trips.

According to the “Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals”, every year, millions of migratory species, whether by water, land or air, travel enormous distances over the American continent and beyond. This happens because they search for better climatic conditions, more abundant food or a suitable site for reproduction, which generally coincides with the warmest season. Some species travel up to 20,000 miles round trip.  

In the case of fish, many of them, such as tuna, mahi - mahi, swordfish and striped marlin, also migrate. When they mate, some travel to the edge of the continental platform where they deposit their eggs to protect them from possible predators. The young fish swim to mangrove areas on the coast to feed and when they develop they go to deeper waters or even to the open sea, where they continue with their cycle.

Discover the case of the Striped Marlin

The Striped marlin (Kajikia audax) is a species that can be found in different parts of the world, but is distributed mainly in the Central Pacific Ocean, and through the equator along the western coast of Central America. Marlins have a hydrodynamic body that allows them to cover great distances in a short time, being considered extremely efficient swimmers. In addition, they have a highly developed sense of hearing that allows them to capture their prey very efficiently.

The striped marlin is also a top predator, a key species to maintain the balance of the food chain in the sea. WWF-Peru Wildlife Specialist Shaleyla Kelez commented: “This type of species is considered an expression of the evolutionary process and biodiversity, since they originate 65 million years ago. The latter constitutes an important reason to promote its conservation”.   

Its preferred habitat is coastal waters with warm sea surface temperatures and a high concentration of food. “This species is found in the Peruvian sea and can migrate long distances. Its migratory movements are seasonal, in summer it is found in warm or cold waters to feed, after which it migrates to subtropical or tropical waters to spend the winter and reproduce,” added Kelez.

Let’s protect marine ecosystems and their connectivity!

Marine animal migrations connect places and habitats of different countries. However, today, these spaces are in danger due to threats caused by human actions, which harm ecological, spatial and functional aspects of the connectivity between habitats. To ensure the survival of migratory species, it is essential to maintain and restore ecological connectivity.

According to national regulations, the capture or fishing of this species is prohibited. This same regulation applies to blue marlin and sailfish species. The only fish in this group that is allowed to be consumed by humans is the swordfish. For this reason, it is necessary to contribute to the conservation of the striped marlin, avoiding its fishing and consumption. Thus, we also support the conservation of marine ecosystems and contribute to the sustainability of the people’s economy who inhabit the area. 

Reference:
 

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

Publication “WHMSI - Migratory Species: Biological, Cultural, and Economic Assets of the Americas”

Accessed April 19, 2022
 

Jackiemora01 / (CC BY-SA 3.0)