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Marlin

Marlin

Striped marlin, © Amadeo Bachar

At a glance

Eco-rating Mercury Omega-3s
+-Blue marlin
OK
Elevated

MORE ABOUT BLUE MARLIN

Like all the marlins, the blue marlin is distinguished by its characteristic spiked horn and pointed fins. This solitary predator is found in the subtropical waters of the world's oceans. It can grow to over 16 feet (five meters) in length and weigh 1800 pounds.

Commercial Sources

Blue marlin are found in the tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The main sources of blue marlin are Japan and Brazil.

Capture Methods

Blue marlin come from marine fisheries, not fish farms. They are primarily caught with longlines. Additional types of fishing gear include gillnets.

+-Blue marlin (imported)
Worst
Elevated

MORE ABOUT BLUE MARLIN

Like all the marlins, the blue marlin is distinguished by its characteristic spiked horn and pointed fins. This solitary predator is found in the subtropical waters of the world's oceans. It can grow to over 16 feet (five meters) in length and weigh 1800 pounds.

Commercial Sources

Blue marlin are found in the tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The main sources of blue marlin are Japan and Brazil.

Capture Methods

Blue marlin come from marine fisheries, not fish farms. They are primarily caught with longlines. Additional types of fishing gear include gillnets.

+-Striped marlin
Worst
Elevated

MORE ABOUT STRIPED MARLIN

Like all the marlins, the striped marlin is distinguished by its characteristic spiked horn and pointed fins. This solitary predator is found in the subtropical waters of the world's oceans. It can grow to over 13 feet (4.2 meters) in length and weigh 900 pounds.

Commercial Sources

Striped marlin are found in the tropical, subtropical and temperate waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. In the Pacific, their distribution has a horseshoe pattern that starts in the Northwest, curves around the eastern Pacific, off Central America, and ends in the Southwest. In the Indian Ocean, however, populations of striped marlin are more densely distributed around equatorial waters.

The main source of striped marlin is Japan.

Capture Methods

Striped marlin come from marine fisheries, not fish farms. They are primarily caught with longlines. Additional types of fishing gear include seines and harpoons.

+-White marlin
Unrated
Elevated

MORE ABOUT WHITE MARLIN

The Atlantic white marlin has a sharp bill and pointed fins like all marlins. This highly migratory, deep-water species follows the seasons to warmer waters. White marlin can grow to 10 feet (three meters) in length.

Commercial Sources

White marlin are found in the South Atlantic Ocean.

The main source of white marlin is Brazil.

Capture Methods

White marlin come from marine fisheries, not fish farms. They are primarily caught with longlines. Additional types of fishing gear include gillnets.

Recommended servings per month

Contaminant Men Women Kids 6-12 Kids 0-5
Blue marlin Mercury < 1 0 0 0
Blue marlin (imported) Mercury < 1 0 0 0
Striped marlin Mercury < 1 0 0 0
White marlin Mercury < 1 0 0 0
Eco details: 
  • Marlin are rarely sought by commercial fishers but often end up as unintended targets (bycatch) of tuna and swordfish longline fisheries.
  • There has been little study on the abundance of marlins, but most scientists believe that all marlin species are in decline from being heavily fished and poorly managed worldwide.