428
12 Species Case Studies
(e.g. Northern Territory) and species-specifi c limits on both the minimum (50 cm
TL) and maximum sizes (70 cm TL) that can be taken (i.e. Queensland). Some
additional protection may be provided by no-take zoning restrictions within certain
sections the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Bans or restrictions on the live reef fi sh
trade are in place in some areas of its distribution (e.g. Solomon Islands, Palau).
For directed management of camoufl age grouper, sales (Pohnpei, Palau) and
catch bans (Palau only) are in place during all or most of the reproductive season.
No-take (marine) protected areas (MPA) specifi c to spawning aggregation sites are
in place in both Palau and Pohnpei. In Palau, fi shing is not permitted during the
reproductive season and some aggregation sites are protected from fi shing as a result
of either national or state legislation, or due to traditional fi shing bans ( bul ) (Johannes
et al. 1999 ) . In Pohnpei, two large spawning aggregations are protected as no-take
zones. Catch and sales bans during reproductive periods and seasonal (reproductive)
or permanent no-take MPAs centered on aggregation sites can be particularly effective management tools for addressing overfi shing of the species. Small-scale MPAs
will likely be less effective than larger-scale no-take zones that incorporate migratory corridors and home range habitats. Where practical, management should also
limit the catch of juveniles by setting size restrictions. Exports, including those to
the live reef fi sh trade, are generally discouraged unless information on sustainable
yield is available and strong controls are in place to limit or restrict the targeting of
reproductively active fi sh.
Although camoufl age grouper are important components of subsistence and
commercial fi sheries, many details of its life history are still lacking for management, such as habitat use that includes home range area, habitat shifts during development (ontogeny) and patterns of movement during reproductive life history.
Seasonal catch and sales bans, while useful in protecting target species, such as
camoufl age grouper, can shift fi shing pressure to other commercially important
species (Rhodes et al. 2008 ) . Therefore, such measures should be instituted under
a comprehensive management strategy that considers all vulnerable species and
habitats.
Ecosystem-based management strategies are encouraged, since these encompass a more holistic view of individual species needs together with reef community
and ecosystem function. For aggregating grouper, such as camoufl age grouper,
monitoring and enforcement challenges are often daunting owing to the dynamic
nature of populations during reproduction, oftentimes wide distribution of spawning sites within management jurisdictions and typically substantial resource
requirements for monitoring and enforcement, especially for those sites far from
shore. Some challenges can be overcome by focusing on sites of highest vulnerability, utilizing traditional knowledge (once validated) of reproductive periods to
establish fi shing restrictions and identifying practical points of enforcement and
monitoring interdiction, such as at fi sh markets or landing sites. Precautionary,
adaptive, traditional and co-management approaches offer a wider range of options
and may provide greater potential for success through increased monitoring and
enforcement capacity and from greater fl exibility in responding to changes in fi sh
population or ecosystem status.
12 Species Case Studies
(e.g. Northern Territory) and species-specifi c limits on both the minimum (50 cm
TL) and maximum sizes (70 cm TL) that can be taken (i.e. Queensland). Some
additional protection may be provided by no-take zoning restrictions within certain
sections the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Bans or restrictions on the live reef fi sh
trade are in place in some areas of its distribution (e.g. Solomon Islands, Palau).
For directed management of camoufl age grouper, sales (Pohnpei, Palau) and
catch bans (Palau only) are in place during all or most of the reproductive season.
No-take (marine) protected areas (MPA) specifi c to spawning aggregation sites are
in place in both Palau and Pohnpei. In Palau, fi shing is not permitted during the
reproductive season and some aggregation sites are protected from fi shing as a result
of either national or state legislation, or due to traditional fi shing bans ( bul ) (Johannes
et al. 1999 ) . In Pohnpei, two large spawning aggregations are protected as no-take
zones. Catch and sales bans during reproductive periods and seasonal (reproductive)
or permanent no-take MPAs centered on aggregation sites can be particularly effective management tools for addressing overfi shing of the species. Small-scale MPAs
will likely be less effective than larger-scale no-take zones that incorporate migratory corridors and home range habitats. Where practical, management should also
limit the catch of juveniles by setting size restrictions. Exports, including those to
the live reef fi sh trade, are generally discouraged unless information on sustainable
yield is available and strong controls are in place to limit or restrict the targeting of
reproductively active fi sh.
Although camoufl age grouper are important components of subsistence and
commercial fi sheries, many details of its life history are still lacking for management, such as habitat use that includes home range area, habitat shifts during development (ontogeny) and patterns of movement during reproductive life history.
Seasonal catch and sales bans, while useful in protecting target species, such as
camoufl age grouper, can shift fi shing pressure to other commercially important
species (Rhodes et al. 2008 ) . Therefore, such measures should be instituted under
a comprehensive management strategy that considers all vulnerable species and
habitats.
Ecosystem-based management strategies are encouraged, since these encompass a more holistic view of individual species needs together with reef community
and ecosystem function. For aggregating grouper, such as camoufl age grouper,
monitoring and enforcement challenges are often daunting owing to the dynamic
nature of populations during reproduction, oftentimes wide distribution of spawning sites within management jurisdictions and typically substantial resource
requirements for monitoring and enforcement, especially for those sites far from
shore. Some challenges can be overcome by focusing on sites of highest vulnerability, utilizing traditional knowledge (once validated) of reproductive periods to
establish fi shing restrictions and identifying practical points of enforcement and
monitoring interdiction, such as at fi sh markets or landing sites. Precautionary,
adaptive, traditional and co-management approaches offer a wider range of options
and may provide greater potential for success through increased monitoring and
enforcement capacity and from greater fl exibility in responding to changes in fi sh
population or ecosystem status.