Identifying pre-spawning aggregation sites for bonefish (Albula vulpes) in the Bahamas to inform habitat protection and species conservation

Adams, Aaron J.; Shenker, Jonathan M.; Jud, Zachary R.; Lewis, Justin P.; Carey, Eric M.; Danylchuk, Andy J.

doi:10.1007/s10641-018-0802-7

Cited by 45 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Prior to this study, the advanced stages of oocyte maturation ( i.e ., GVM, GVBD and hydration) indicative of an imminent spawning event had never been observed in albulids. Previous authors have hypothesised that these final development stages occur during the transition from pre‐spawning aggregation sites to the location of reproductive events over a period of several hours (Adams et al ., ; Danylchuk et al ., , ; Luck et al ., ; Mejri et al ., ). Our results advance our understanding of the reproductive strategies for this genus and provide the first empirical evidence to support this theory, as oocyte development form VT3 to GVM and GVBD were observed over a period of 12–24 h, while transitioning from pre‐spawning aggregation sites to oceanic habitats were they reproduce (Adams et al ., ; Danylchuk et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reproductive characteristics such as the length and age of maturity provide fisheries managers with an understanding of the critical size a fish must obtain for it to replace itself and reduce growth overfishing (Cope & Punt, ; Froese, ). Furthermore, the identification of the seasonal and lunar timing of spawning can help identify periods where these species are vulnerable to overharvest and temporal closures are required (Adams et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Life‐history characteristics of an exploited bonefishAlbula glossodontapopulation in a remote South Pacific atoll

Filous

Lennox

Coleman

et al. 2019

Journal of Fish Biology

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Bonefishes Albula spp. are important components of subsistence fisheries and lucrative sport fishing industries throughout their circumtropical distribution. In Oceania, however, Albula spp. have historically been overexploited and there is a growing need to balance the demands of competing fishing sectors, making the description of their life history a regional priority. To this aim, we collected biological samples from Albula spp. of Anaa atoll, French Polynesia, to identify the species that compose the stock and estimate their life‐history parameters including age, growth, reproduction and natural mortality. Our results indicate that Albula glossodonta is the species of bonefish present, with a maximum age that is below the, 20 year longevity of the genus (8 years in males and 10 years in females). Differential growth patterns existed between the two sexes (L∞ = 58, 78 cm fork length (LF) and K = 0.38, 0.21 for males and females, respectively). Males attained sexual maturity at 43 cm LF (c. 3 years) whereas females matured at 48 cm LF (c. 4 years) and oocyte production was significantly related to body mass, with a maximum batch fecundity of 1,133,767 oocytes in a 4406 g (70 cm LF) female. The gonado‐somatic index of harvested fishes indicated that the spawning season extends from March through September. Based on the observation of a, 20 year bonefish at the proximate Tetiaroa Atoll and several empirical models, estimates of natural mortality ranged from 0.21 to 0.68; however, an estimate of 0.21 was deemed most appropriate. This information facilitated the resurgence of a Rahui (temporary fishing closure) and community‐based management to protect A. glossodonta during a critical portion of their spawning season and in this context our results provide an important demographic baseline in evaluating the recovery of this fishery.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Life‐history characteristics of an exploited bonefishAlbula glossodontapopulation in a remote South Pacific atoll

Filous

Lennox

Coleman

et al. 2019

Journal of Fish Biology

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“…Sexually mature A. vulpes ( n = 6 females; n = 12 males) were collected using hook and line in December 2017 and November 2018 in prespawning aggregations that were discovered in Eleuthera and Great Abaco, The Bahamas, respectively (Adams et al ., ). Precise locations are not published in the interest of aggregation conservation.…”

Section: Summary Of Oocyte Development Of Albula Vulpes Females From mentioning

confidence: 97%

Induced spawning and embryonic and early larval development of bonefish (Albula vulpes)

Halstead

Mejri

Cianciotto

et al. 2020

Journal of Fish Biology

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Bonefish (Albula vulpes L.) are a highly prized sport fish. Despite their economic importance, populations in the Florida Keys and Caribbean are in decline, with the early life history undescribed. Injections of carp pituitary extract into A. vulpes during the advanced stages of ovarian development induced ovulation and spawning. Embryos were sampled hourly until hatching into undeveloped, yolk‐sac leptocephalus larvae. These larvae survived 56 h post‐hatch, when myomeres and eyes were developing but not the mouth. These results inform future research on the reproduction and early life history of A. vulpes.

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“…; Adams et al. , ). To this aim, the establishment of a slot limit that protects both newly mature spawning females and megaspawners is a commonly utilized catch control in fisheries management (Froese ; Gwinn et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Length‐Based Assessment of an Artisanal Albulid Fishery in the South Pacific: a Data‐Limited Approach for Management and Conservation

et al. 2019

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Data‐limited fisheries assessment methods have great potential to help inform small island communities on the status of their fisheries resources. In this paper, we provide a length‐based assessment of an artisanal fishery that primarily targets spawning aggregations of Shortjaw Bonefish Albula glossodonta at Anaa Atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. We assessed the length‐frequency distribution of the spawning stock across a 3‐year period (2016–2018). During this time, male and female Shortjaw Bonefish were fully recruited to the fishery at age 4 and age 5, respectively. Fishing mortality was over two times the range of natural mortality for this species (i.e., 0.21–0.32), and based on these estimates of natural mortality, the annual spawning potential ratio of the population was between 7% and 20% across the sampling years. The majority of the catch was sexually mature, with 78, 95, and 95% of the annual female catch in 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively, being equal to or greater than the length of first maturity (i.e., 48 cm FL). However, every fisheries indicator and biological reference point suggested that the fishery was overexploited and in need of management intervention. To this aim, the community of Anaa (1) established an Educational Managed Marine Area, which overlaps with the Shortjaw Bonefish migratory corridor adjacent to Tukuhora village and (2) instated a temporal rahui (a traditional conservation method) inside the Educational Managed Marine Area during the peak months of the spawning season.

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Identifying pre-spawning aggregation sites for bonefish (Albula vulpes) in the Bahamas to inform habitat protection and species conservation

Cited by 45 publications

References 24 publications

Life‐history characteristics of an exploited bonefishAlbula glossodontapopulation in a remote South Pacific atoll

Life‐history characteristics of an exploited bonefishAlbula glossodontapopulation in a remote South Pacific atoll

Induced spawning and embryonic and early larval development of bonefish (Albula vulpes)

Length‐Based Assessment of an Artisanal Albulid Fishery in the South Pacific: a Data‐Limited Approach for Management and Conservation

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