463
12 Species Case Studies
present at the aggregation for about 85–90% of each lunar month, it is unknown
how far the snappers migrate or what routes are taken.
Based on the oceanographic and physical parameters of the one known aggregation, it will be interesting to see whether other aggregations have similar requirements. The one known aggregation described here contradicts some of the widely
held tenets of spawning aggregation occurrence. It is found along the side of a
channel a considerable distance from the channel mouth, the currents at the site (a
reverse eddy contrary to the general channel current fl ow) tend to imply eggs are not
going to be easily dispersed into the open ocean from the aggregation site and
beyond this possible effect of current conditions there is nothing distinctive about
the aggregation area. Moreover, there is no obviously distinct seasonality in the
formation of aggregations at this site.
12.10.3 Fishery and Traditional Knowledge
The lack of recorded traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is interesting in that
aggregation occurs in a location that is shallow and often in protected waters (strong
westerly storms being the exception). It has undoubtedly been seen by local fi shermen, yet no one has reported this information. This could be due to one of several
possibilities. First, perhaps no fi sheries person has asked the right fi sherman (i.e.
spearfi sherman) about aggregations in the area where this occurs (see Sect. 10.2.3).
Perhaps, due to the lack of exploitation or because the fi sh are relatively small and
not of high commercial value, it was not considered as anything worthy of mention
even if somebody asked. The most likely explanation is a combination of these factors which should elicit caution in thinking that interviews of fi shermen by outsiders
ever truly gathers all TEK available about fi sh and fi sheries. It points to the limits of
recorded TEK and the oftentimes disparity between what might be of interest to a
biologist and a subsistence fi sherman. There is no management of the species or
aggregation site.
12.10.4 Aggregation and Spawning Among
Other Snappers (Lutjanidae)
The reproduction of snappers is starting to become better known with several
Atlantic species the most-studied to date. These include the cubera snapper, Lutjanus
cyanopterus , and the mutton snapper, L. analis . Aggregation-spawning has been
documented for some western Atlantic species (Wicklund 1969 ; Heyman et al.
2005 ; Kadison et al. 2006 ) with a number of other species having probable to possible records (see Appendix) that are being validated, and will hopefully be published in the next few years. For the Indo-west Pacifi c there were no previously
published reports of verifi ed spawning aggregations of the family. However in
Palau, schools of some snappers previously assumed to be spawning aggregations
12 Species Case Studies
present at the aggregation for about 85–90% of each lunar month, it is unknown
how far the snappers migrate or what routes are taken.
Based on the oceanographic and physical parameters of the one known aggregation, it will be interesting to see whether other aggregations have similar requirements. The one known aggregation described here contradicts some of the widely
held tenets of spawning aggregation occurrence. It is found along the side of a
channel a considerable distance from the channel mouth, the currents at the site (a
reverse eddy contrary to the general channel current fl ow) tend to imply eggs are not
going to be easily dispersed into the open ocean from the aggregation site and
beyond this possible effect of current conditions there is nothing distinctive about
the aggregation area. Moreover, there is no obviously distinct seasonality in the
formation of aggregations at this site.
12.10.3 Fishery and Traditional Knowledge
The lack of recorded traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is interesting in that
aggregation occurs in a location that is shallow and often in protected waters (strong
westerly storms being the exception). It has undoubtedly been seen by local fi shermen, yet no one has reported this information. This could be due to one of several
possibilities. First, perhaps no fi sheries person has asked the right fi sherman (i.e.
spearfi sherman) about aggregations in the area where this occurs (see Sect. 10.2.3).
Perhaps, due to the lack of exploitation or because the fi sh are relatively small and
not of high commercial value, it was not considered as anything worthy of mention
even if somebody asked. The most likely explanation is a combination of these factors which should elicit caution in thinking that interviews of fi shermen by outsiders
ever truly gathers all TEK available about fi sh and fi sheries. It points to the limits of
recorded TEK and the oftentimes disparity between what might be of interest to a
biologist and a subsistence fi sherman. There is no management of the species or
aggregation site.
12.10.4 Aggregation and Spawning Among
Other Snappers (Lutjanidae)
The reproduction of snappers is starting to become better known with several
Atlantic species the most-studied to date. These include the cubera snapper, Lutjanus
cyanopterus , and the mutton snapper, L. analis . Aggregation-spawning has been
documented for some western Atlantic species (Wicklund 1969 ; Heyman et al.
2005 ; Kadison et al. 2006 ) with a number of other species having probable to possible records (see Appendix) that are being validated, and will hopefully be published in the next few years. For the Indo-west Pacifi c there were no previously
published reports of verifi ed spawning aggregations of the family. However in
Palau, schools of some snappers previously assumed to be spawning aggregations