Survival of white marlin released from commercial pelagic longline gear in the western North Atlantic

Short-duration popup satellite archival tags (PSATs) on captured animals for period of 5-43 days were deployed. The objective was to estimate post release survival of white marlin. Preparations for tagging operations were made before each haulback of the gear. Tags were either activated prior to haulback or during haulback immediately following the tagging of a fish and during preparation for tagging another animal. The captain of the vessel identified incoming white marlin on the line during the morning haulback of the gear and fish were evaluated as living or dead based on movement alongside the vessel. White marlin were released as soon as possible after tagging by the standard commercial protocol of cutting the leader near the hook. Post release survival estimates ranged from 63.0 percent to 89.5 percent.