The harpoon fishery for billfishes (Xiphiidae and Istiophoridae) from El Ñuro, Perú: Basis of a forgotten fishery

-Harpoon fishing is an ancestral method of high selectivity, displaced in recent years by more mechanized gears in order to maximize catches. However, in some parts of the world this practice is still used to catch billfishes. Reports on harpoon fishing are scarce and in Peru, the most recent record dates to 1999. The aim of this study was to provide basic information on the harpoon fishery targeting billfishes, based on monthly landing observations during 2019 in El Ñuro, Piura. Four of the five billfish species known to occur in Peru were registered: Xiphias gladius, Kajikia audax, Makaira nigricans and Istiompax indica. Of these, swordfish (X. gladius) comprised 95% of total registered landings in terms of abundance. Higher landings were reported during the cold season (May-November), with peaks in July and August, when the effective catch per unit effort of swordfish reached maximum values (>0.15 ind.hfp^-1). At least 96% of registered specimens of X. gladius were categorized as adults. Our conclusions are that the harpoon fishery in El Ñuro had an evident fishing season during winter 2019, it was mainly composed by X. gladius and showed a great selectivity in caught sizes. Further detailed studies will be necessary to evaluate options to ensure its sustainability over time.