It has been a controversial seven days since fishing boat Mai Tai arrived at Port Douglas Marina with a black marlin on board. The question is now, is the worldwide attention good or bad for Port Douglas?

Readers flooded The Newsport article '400kg whopper sparks debate' (Wednesday 10 October 2012) with their opinions, and the story gained its fair share of publicity overseas, particularly in the United States where big game fishing is a popular sport.

Prevalent fishing blog sportfishingmag.com attracted its own discussion on the subject, as did underwatertimes.com, while thousands of readers from around the world and across Australia saw images of the 400kg catch.

Pictured: Onlookers at the Port Douglas Marina last week.

The economic value of big game fishing to the local economy has been estimated in its millions, and big game fishing participants have been quick to defend their sport saying modern recreational fishing practices mean mortality rates for fish such as black marlin are very low.

So how will Port Douglas be seen in the eyes of the world? Will game fishing off our shores prosper with an enhanced reputation of catching the big one, or will people be turned off by the public backlash?

Tell us what you think below.