xii
Preface
of information was used as the working basis for many chapters in this book, but is
neither complete nor fi nal. It will change as information increases, and it highlights
those species for which further work is needed. Nonetheless, at this writing it is
believed to be reasonably thorough. Clear defi nitions of other terminology commonly used in association with aggregations would greatly clarify discussions
and we suggest ways in which commonly used, but often poorly defi ned, terms such
as ‘catchment area’, or ‘group-spawning’ can be applied more systematically
(Glossary).
The chapters of this book build from the specifi cs of defi ning aggregations to the
many different angles of their biology, ecology, use and preservation. We have also
included a chapter on species-specifi c accounts for the better known aggregating
species. Chapter 1 addresses the defi nition and classifi cation of aggregations across
a wide range of fi sh taxa. While the focus of the book is reef fi shes, we occasionally
use examples from non-reef, even non-fi sh, species where these are particularly
illustrative or interesting (e.g. Chap. 3 ). Chapters 2 – 7 explore questions that ask
why, when and where aggregation spawning occurs, the ecological and evolutionary
processes associated with the habit, the oceanography and early life-history associated with these species, and ecosystem links. Chapters 8 – 11 look at the human
angle of the exploitation, impacts and study of aggregating species, including their
commercial and traditional use, study methodologies, economics, perceptions and
attitudes, culminating in conservation and management. And we complete the book
by summarizing major fi ndings, gaps and research areas that need to be addressed,
ending by suggesting next steps (Chap. 13 ). Chapter 12 covers the better known or
newly studied aggregating fi shes plus some of their relatives and includes much in
the way of novel information and perspectives.
In the process of preparing and compiling this volume, we were struck by two,
related and disturbing, issues that reaffi rmed our initial concerns and highlighted
some worrying perspectives. The fi rst is how little effective conservation and management there is in place for spawning aggregations, and how infrequently they are
considered in either fi shery management planning or in marine protected area
(MPA) designation in conservation efforts. The second issue is a general absence of
management attention on tropical reef-associated fi sheries in general, on effective
MPA management, and on aggregations in particular; there appears to persist in
many places a deep-seated, often unspoken, belief that commercially exploited
fi shes will somehow continue to supply coastal communities without signifi cant
intervention; fi shery management is not a high enough priority in most countries
where they continue to be important sources of food and livelihoods. Whereas, for
example, there is little question that the nesting colonies of certain seabirds or the
beaches where turtles congregate to lay eggs need protection (even if such goals are
diffi cult to achieve in practice), fi sh spawning aggregations are commonly viewed
as opportunities for fi shing rather than a life history phase to be preserved and management is rarely enforced. Legislation to protect berried (egg-bearing) lobsters has
long been in force in many parts of the world, but we know of no examples where
female fi sh, visibly full of eggs for the brief annual spawning season, are conferred
protection. We hope, through the chapters of this book, to demonstrate the need for
Preface
of information was used as the working basis for many chapters in this book, but is
neither complete nor fi nal. It will change as information increases, and it highlights
those species for which further work is needed. Nonetheless, at this writing it is
believed to be reasonably thorough. Clear defi nitions of other terminology commonly used in association with aggregations would greatly clarify discussions
and we suggest ways in which commonly used, but often poorly defi ned, terms such
as ‘catchment area’, or ‘group-spawning’ can be applied more systematically
(Glossary).
The chapters of this book build from the specifi cs of defi ning aggregations to the
many different angles of their biology, ecology, use and preservation. We have also
included a chapter on species-specifi c accounts for the better known aggregating
species. Chapter 1 addresses the defi nition and classifi cation of aggregations across
a wide range of fi sh taxa. While the focus of the book is reef fi shes, we occasionally
use examples from non-reef, even non-fi sh, species where these are particularly
illustrative or interesting (e.g. Chap. 3 ). Chapters 2 – 7 explore questions that ask
why, when and where aggregation spawning occurs, the ecological and evolutionary
processes associated with the habit, the oceanography and early life-history associated with these species, and ecosystem links. Chapters 8 – 11 look at the human
angle of the exploitation, impacts and study of aggregating species, including their
commercial and traditional use, study methodologies, economics, perceptions and
attitudes, culminating in conservation and management. And we complete the book
by summarizing major fi ndings, gaps and research areas that need to be addressed,
ending by suggesting next steps (Chap. 13 ). Chapter 12 covers the better known or
newly studied aggregating fi shes plus some of their relatives and includes much in
the way of novel information and perspectives.
In the process of preparing and compiling this volume, we were struck by two,
related and disturbing, issues that reaffi rmed our initial concerns and highlighted
some worrying perspectives. The fi rst is how little effective conservation and management there is in place for spawning aggregations, and how infrequently they are
considered in either fi shery management planning or in marine protected area
(MPA) designation in conservation efforts. The second issue is a general absence of
management attention on tropical reef-associated fi sheries in general, on effective
MPA management, and on aggregations in particular; there appears to persist in
many places a deep-seated, often unspoken, belief that commercially exploited
fi shes will somehow continue to supply coastal communities without signifi cant
intervention; fi shery management is not a high enough priority in most countries
where they continue to be important sources of food and livelihoods. Whereas, for
example, there is little question that the nesting colonies of certain seabirds or the
beaches where turtles congregate to lay eggs need protection (even if such goals are
diffi cult to achieve in practice), fi sh spawning aggregations are commonly viewed
as opportunities for fi shing rather than a life history phase to be preserved and management is rarely enforced. Legislation to protect berried (egg-bearing) lobsters has
long been in force in many parts of the world, but we know of no examples where
female fi sh, visibly full of eggs for the brief annual spawning season, are conferred
protection. We hope, through the chapters of this book, to demonstrate the need for