Biology and Management of the World Tarpon and Bonefish Fisheries

About this book

Paperback reprint of a 2007 book.

The core of a multibillion dollar sport fishing industry, tarpon and bonefish, two of the earth's oldest creatures, are experiencing obvious and precipitous population decline. Experienced anglers in the Florida Keys suggest a drop of approximately 90-95 percent for the bonefish population over the last 65 years. Despite the economic value of the industry and scientific value of these ancient fish, very little information is available about their movements and migrations, population dynamics, life histories, and reproductive habits.

With contributions from some of the world's leading experts, Biology and Management of the World Tarpon and Bonefish Fisheries synthesizes existing scientific literature, presents new perspectives, and introduces original scientific research to guide fishery management and conservation efforts for building sustainable fisheries. Divided into five sections, Biology and Management of the World Tarpon and Bonefish Fisheries begins with an overview of the state of the world's fisheries for tarpon and bonefish. The second section reviews the biology and life history dynamics of these fish with contributions on conservation genetics, reproductive biology and early life development, as well as resolving gaps in evolutionary lineage and taxonomy. Covering population dynamics and resource ecology, the third section discusses migratory patterns and the use of tagging. Highlighting the lore and appeal of these fascinating sport fish, the book concludes by introducing a myriad of proposals designed to improve fishery sustainability by conducting census, enforcing catch-and-release programs, and supporting science-based management decision making.

Promoting a better understanding of the biological and fishery management issues that are paramount to the sustainable future of these valuable fishery resources, Biology and Management of the World Tarpon and Bonefish Fisheries provides a foundation for discussion and broad communication about the past present and future of these magni

Contents

World Fisheries for Tarpon and Bonefish
Indo-Pacific Tarpon Megalops cyprinoides: A Review and Ecological Assessment, J.A. Ley
Biology and Ecology of the Recreational Bonefish Fishery at Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge with Comparisons to Other Pacific Islands, A.M. Friedlander, J.E. Caselle, J. Beets, C.G. Lowe, B.W. Bowen, T.K. Ogawa, K.M. Kelley, T. Calitri, M. Lange, and B.S. Anderson
The Louisiana Recreational Tarpon Fishery, W. Dailey, A.M. Landry Jr., and F.L. Kenyon, II
Insight into the Historical Status and Trends of Tarpon in Southwest Florida through Recreational Catch Data Recorded on Scales, S.A. Bortone
Ecology and Management of Bonefish (Albula spp.) in the Bahamian Archipelago, A.J. Danylchuk, S.E. Danylchuk, S.J. Cooke, T.L. Goldberg, J. Koppelman, and D.P. Philipp
Coastal Ecosystem Management to Support Bonefish and Tarpon Sportfishing in Peninsula de Zapata National Park, Cuba, L. Viñola Valadez, L. Cotayo Cedeño, and N. Zurcher
Tarpon and Bonefish Fishery on Turneffe Atoll, Belize, J.T. Pritchett
Aspects of the Biology and Recreational Fishery of Bonefish (Albula vulpes) from Los Roques Archipelago National Park, Venezuela, J. M. Posada, D. Debrot, and C. Weinberger
The Nigerian Tarpon: Resource Ecology and Fishery, P.E. Anyanwu and K. Kusemiju

Biology and Life History Dynamics
Studies in Conservation Genetics of Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus): Microsatellite Variation across the Distribution ofthe Species, R. Ward, I.R. Blandon, F. García de León, S. J. Robertson, A.M. Landry Jr., A. O. Anyanwu, J.M. Shenker, M. Figuerola, T. C. Gesteira, A. Zerbi, C. D. Acuña Leal, and W. Dailey
Resolving Evolutionary Lineages and Taxonomy of Bonefishes (Albula spp.), B.W. Bowen, S.A. Karl, and E.  Pfeiler
Ecology of Bonefish during the Transition from Late-Larvae to Early Juveniles, C. Dahlgren, J.M. Shenker, and R. Mojica
Physiological Ecology of Developing Bonefish Larvae, E. Pfeiler
Reproductive Biology of Atlantic Tarpon Megalops atlanticus, J.D. Baldwin and D. Snodgrass
Rethinking the Status of Albula spp. Biology in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic, A.J. Adams, R.K. Wolfe, M.D. Tringali, E.M. Wallace, and G.T. Kellison

Population Dynamics and Resource Ecology
Population Dynamics and Resource Ecology of Atlantic Tarpon and Bonefish, J.S. Ault, R. Humston, M.F. Larkin, E. Perusquia, N.A. Farmer, J. Luo, N. Zurcher, S.G. Smith, L.R. Barbieri, and J.M. Posada
A Preliminary Otolith Microchemical Examination of the Diadromous Migrations of Atlantic Tarpon Megalops atlanticus, R.J. Brown and K.P. Severin
Seasonal Migratory Patterns and Vertical Habitat Utilization of Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) from Satellite PAT Tags, J. Luo, J.S. Ault, M.F. Larkin, R. Humston, and D.B. Olson
Tagging of Bonefish in South Florida to Study Population Movements and Stock Dynamics, M.F. Larkin, J.S. Ault, R. Humston, J. Luo, and N. Zurcher

Lore and Appeal of Fishing for Tarpon and Bonefish
Bonefish Are Without Question My Favorite Fly Rod Quarry, S. Moret
Record Tarpon on a Fly Rod, S.C. Apte
Learning from History, B. Stearns
Memories of the Florida Keys: Tarpon and Bonefish Like it Used To Be!, M. Sosin

Ecosystem-Based Management and Sustainable Fisheries
National Parks and the Conservation of Bonefish and Tarpon Fisheries, J.T. Tilmant
Improving the Sustainability of Catch-and-Release Bonefish (Albula spp.) Fisheries: Insights for Anglers, Guides, and Fisheries Managers, S.J. Cooke and D.P. Philipp
Florida Keys Bonefish Population Census, J.S. Ault, S. Moret, J. Luo, M.F. Larkin, N. Zurcher, and S.G. Smith
Science in Support of Management Decision Making for Bonefish and Tarpon Conservation in Florida, L.R. Barbieri, J.S. Ault, and R.E. Crabtree
How to Get the Support of Recreational Anglers, D. Kelly
Sustaining Tarpon and Bonefish Fisheries: Scientists and Anglers Working Together, M. Sosin
Incorporating User-Group Expertise in Bonefish and Tarpon Fishery Research to Support Science-Based Management Decision Making, R. Humston, J.S. Ault, J. Schratwieser, M.F. Larkin, and J. Luo

Index

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