xi
Why a Book on Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations, Why Now?
Spawning aggregations are extravagant biological events known to occur in many
reef fi sh species. They are a key factor in population regeneration yet at the same
time they appeal as extremely attractive fi shing opportunities. Such aggregations are
spectacles of nature, in the same class as mass gatherings of animals as diverse as
wildebeest, fl amingos and monarch butterfl ies. As we come to better understand
these important reproductive events, and see them increasingly exploited globally,
we are discovering that many have diminished following human disturbance, in
particular uncontrolled fi shing. Some aggregations no longer appear to form at all
where once they annually contained tens of thousands of fi sh. Since many species
with this habit are particularly desirable as food, heavily sought and otherwise
intrinsically vulnerable to fi shing due to their life history and general absence of
management, it is clear that they merit considerably more research and management
attention.
It was with a mix of fascination and concern over what we, independently, were
observing in our respective studies and parts of the world that fi rst inspired us to
embark upon this book. We hope to share what is being discovered and caution over
what could be lost if current trends continue. In this introduction we briefl y outline
what we believe to be key issues in the characterization, biology, ecology, phylogeny,
history, and fi shery management of reef fi shes that have the habit of aggregationspawning. These issues are addressed by the chapters in this book and revisited in
the fi nal, Discussion, Chap. 13 .
It is not possible to explore the many issues around aggregation-spawning species without fi rst defi ning what ‘spawning aggregations’ are. With this foundation
we can explore possible patterns and processes that distinguish them from nonaggregating species to consider the possible adaptive signifi cance of this reproductive habit, and seek means to best preserve their formation and functionality. As a
starting point we have compiled a list of species for which there is unquestioned to
strongly suggestive evidence of aggregative spawning (Appendix). This Appendix
Preface
Why a Book on Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations, Why Now?
Spawning aggregations are extravagant biological events known to occur in many
reef fi sh species. They are a key factor in population regeneration yet at the same
time they appeal as extremely attractive fi shing opportunities. Such aggregations are
spectacles of nature, in the same class as mass gatherings of animals as diverse as
wildebeest, fl amingos and monarch butterfl ies. As we come to better understand
these important reproductive events, and see them increasingly exploited globally,
we are discovering that many have diminished following human disturbance, in
particular uncontrolled fi shing. Some aggregations no longer appear to form at all
where once they annually contained tens of thousands of fi sh. Since many species
with this habit are particularly desirable as food, heavily sought and otherwise
intrinsically vulnerable to fi shing due to their life history and general absence of
management, it is clear that they merit considerably more research and management
attention.
It was with a mix of fascination and concern over what we, independently, were
observing in our respective studies and parts of the world that fi rst inspired us to
embark upon this book. We hope to share what is being discovered and caution over
what could be lost if current trends continue. In this introduction we briefl y outline
what we believe to be key issues in the characterization, biology, ecology, phylogeny,
history, and fi shery management of reef fi shes that have the habit of aggregationspawning. These issues are addressed by the chapters in this book and revisited in
the fi nal, Discussion, Chap. 13 .
It is not possible to explore the many issues around aggregation-spawning species without fi rst defi ning what ‘spawning aggregations’ are. With this foundation
we can explore possible patterns and processes that distinguish them from nonaggregating species to consider the possible adaptive signifi cance of this reproductive habit, and seek means to best preserve their formation and functionality. As a
starting point we have compiled a list of species for which there is unquestioned to
strongly suggestive evidence of aggregative spawning (Appendix). This Appendix
Preface