Billfish Larval Data from Plankton Tows Conducted off the Kona Coast in West Hawai'i between 1997 and 2018 (NCEI Accession 0306183)

This is a 20-year (1997-2018) dataset of neustonic ichthyoplankton collections from West Hawai'i and beyond focusing on four species of billfishes (Blue Marlin, a'u, (Makaira nigricans), Striped Marlin, a'u, (Kajikia audax), Shortbilled Spearfish, a'u, (Tetrapturus angustirostris), and Swordfish, a'u ku, (Xiphias gladius)). We compiled observations of billfish larvae over this 20- year period (from 998 discrete ichthyoplankton tows in West Hawaii), and provide specimen information and species level identifications for many of these larvae using both existing and new genetic assignments. Additionally, we filtered these data to tows with consistent methodologies revealing 1761 larval billfishes (from 771 discrete surface tows in West Hawaii). We also constructed a thorough dataset of environmental variables (temperature, salinity, chlorophyll) associated with each occurrence of larval billfish and all absences using oceanographic data collected in-situ during cruises and satellite data. We present the first complete multispecies larval billfish dataset with coupled environmental data in the Pacific Islands Region ready for statistical analysis. This dataset will be critical for improving our understanding of how oceanographic features and environmental changes will affect larval growth, survival, and ultimately population replenishment.