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consisting of 954 islands with 218.236 tonnes capture fisheries potential. As a leading economic sector in the region, capture fisheries should be maintained sustainably. One of actions that can be done is focusing fisheries development on prime commodities. Purpose of this study were to identify prime commodities and potential commodities in Bangka Belitung waters. Location Quotient (LQ) Analysis, Shift Share (SS), and Specialization Index (SI) were used for data analysis. The result showed that there were three prime commodities i.e., red snapper (Lutjanus campecanus), mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson), and blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus). Other potential fisheries commodities in Bangka Belitung Province were grouper (Plectropomus leopardus), yellowtail (Caesio erythrogaster), sea catfish (Arius thalassinus), fork-tailed threadfin bream (Nemipterus furcocus), stingray (Dasyatis sp), and crab (Scylla serrata). Keywords: Bangka Belitung Province, capture fisheries, prime commodities

Background The movement ecology of mutton snapper Lutjanus analis is poorly understood despite their ecological and economic importance in the Caribbean. Passive acoustic telemetry was used to determine home ranges of six adult L. analis, including diel patterns, in Brewers Bay, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Understanding long-term space use, including site fidelity and habitat usage, is necessary to implement effective and appropriate management actions for a species with extensive space and resource needs. Results Individual L. analis were tracked over an average period of 316 days (range 125–509 days) and showed high site fidelity to relatively small home ranges (mean ± SD: 0.103 ± 0.028 km2, range 0.019–0.190 km2) and core use areas with low overlap among individuals. Most home ranges had a habitat composition dominated by seagrass and to a lesser degree, coral reef and/or pavement. Nighttime activity spaces were distinct from but contained within daytime areas. Conclusions Mutton snapper showed strong site fidelity to home ranges in Brewers Bay. Two individuals that were absent from the array for more than a few hours were detected at separate arrays at spawning aggregation sites. This study expands upon knowledge of mutton snapper home range characteristics, highlights the importance of maintaining adjacent high-quality habitat types in any spatial management plan, and encourages the adoption of other types of management strategies, particularly for transient-aggregating species.

A pesca ainda é a maior responsável pelo fornecimento de pescado marinho para consumo humano. Entretanto, visto a notória ameaça aos estoques pesqueiros e a crescente demanda pelo produto, este cenário precisa mudar e a piscicultura marinha continua sendo mundialmente apontada como medida viável para remediar esse quadro. Desta forma, o objetivo deste artigo é discutir sobre a piscicultura marinha no Brasil, com foco nos desafios e perspectiva de seu desenvolvimento no estado do Ceará. Durante o período de seis meses, a metodologia do trabalho constituiu-se de três ferramentas: levantamento bibliográfico, entrevistas e visitas técnicas. Os resultados obtidos retratam que, apesar de todas as inciativas públicas e privadas, a piscicultura marinha no Brasil continua incipiente e com obstáculos a serem superados. No que concerne ao Ceará, o estado, por intermédio de órgão de fomento, tem executado ações com o propósito de oportunizar o desenvolvimento da piscicultura marinha. Dentre as ações planejadas, incialmente está sendo executado a elaboração de projeto de laboratório para provimento de alevinos de espécies marinhas, simultaneamente a sua análise da viabilidade econômica financeira, e a prospecção de espécies profícuas para produção no estado, cuja conjectura preliminar tem apontado para Lutjanus synagris (ariacó) e, sobretudo, Lutjanus analis (cioba).

Resource partitioning is important for species coexistence. Species with similar ecomorphological characters have a high potential for competition, especially when close phylogenetically. The diet and resource partitioning of four snappers (Lutjanus alexandrei, L. analis, L. jocu and L. synagris) was studied in the Tubarão River, north-eastern Brazil, between March and November 2012. Specimens were caught using a beach seine, and a total of 731 stomachs were analysed. The highest abundance of snappers was found near to vegetated habitats in the middle estuary. Crustaceans were dominant in the diet of all four species, being found in over 90% of the stomachs, followed by fish and molluscs. The species did not appear to compete for common resources, probably because there was not always spatial overlap, and differences in the proportions of consumption of items were observed. Ontogenetic comparisons of dietary compositions suggested differences among species, with changes in the diet related to changes in the mouth area as the body size increased. The changes were more evident in L. analis and L. synagris where microcrustaceans (Calanoida, Cyclopoida and Amphipoda) were dominant in the diet of the smaller size classes, and benthic crustaceans (Brachyura) and fish in the diet of larger individuals. The intra- and inter-specific differences in the dietary compositions, differences in the mouth area and feeding strategy contribute to allow the co-existence of these snappers in the study area.

Results of our study show that juveniles of the mangrove red snapper are found all year round from the Cua Dai river mouth to Cam Kim upstream of the Thu Bon estuary, with no clear patterns of distribution between months. Variability in recruitment of juvenile fish of ≤50 mm TL was observed from June until February, and the youngest fish (≥18 mm TL) were found in mid-June. Adult mangrove red snapper TL ≥400 mm were only recorded from coral reef offshore islands. There is likely a connection between both fish habitats separated by a distance of approximately 18 km. The results of red snapper DNA analysis show homogeneity of juveniles and adult the population structures.

Snappers are highly recommended as choice seafood and as viable candidate for cage culture in the brackish water and marine environments. However, very limited data exists on biological parameters of the snappers, Lutjanus species throughout their distribution range. Hence, the present study sought to improve knowledge on Length-Weight Relationship (LWR) and relative condition factor (Kn) of the Gorean snapper, Lutjanus goreensis (Valenciennes, 1830) sampled between December 2008 and December 2009 in the coastal zone of Lagos, Nigeria. Specimens were collected from landings of artisanal fisheries and inshore trawl fisheries. A total of 822 unsexed estuarine (7.90 to 34.90 cm and 9.51-695.60 g) and 377 sexed marine (21.90 to 56.10 cm and 156-2 975 g) specimens were analyzed. The overall value of the slope, b for the LWR indicated negative allometric growth for unsexed estuarine (2.860); marine male (2.856) and female (2.917) specimens, respectively. The relative condition factor, Kn did not vary significantly from 1. Sex-wise variations of b values and Kn were not significant either. The present study presents, for the first time, baseline information on the length-weight relationship parameters and condition of L. goreensis in the marine waters of Nigeria and in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. The results are useful indicators to assess the well-being of wild Gorean snapper populations in Lagos coastal zones for management and under culture conditions. Keywords: Lutjanus goreensis; length-weight relationships; condition factor; Lagos; Nigeria

The species Lutjanus argentimaculatus is a prized food-fish in the tropical and subtropical fisheries, as well as the aquaculture industry. This study investigated the distribution of L. argentimaculatus at three patch reefs of Lankayan Island, within the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area. Fish surveys of this species were conducted 12 times at each of the selected patch reefs, from August 2016 until March 2017. In addition to taking underwater video footages, hydrodynamic parameters, i.e. water current direction and current speed were recorded during each survey. The distribution patterns of the fish were then plotted against these parameters to determine any correlation, in response to these parameters. As a result, we found a significant relationship between the current direction and the position of L. argentimaculatus at the reef where the schoolings were found to occur. We found that regardless of the current speed, the schools of L. argentimaculatus were always present at the reef slope facing the incoming current. This finding is important for the management and conservation of this species, which is a targeted species in the Live Reef Fish Food Trade (LRFFT), and is useful for the manager of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in general. This finding is also important as it provides useful insights into the ecology of Lutjanus spp.

In the Abrolhos Bank (Southwest Atlantic), multidimensional indicators were used in sustainability assessments of data‐poor reef fisheries. Potential impacts, risks and stocks vulnerabilities were evaluated based on biological, environmental, social and economic aspects by combining both adapted productivity and susceptibility analysis (PSA) and scale intensity consequence analysis (SICA). Data were obtained from local surveys with stakeholders and experts and from literature. A value chain map revealed final consumers at many locations and middleman presence. Vulnerability to overexploitation ranged from low (Cephalopholis fulva (L.), Lutjanus synagris (L.) and Ocyurus chrysurus (Bloch)) to moderate (Lutjanus jocu (Bloch & Schneider), Epinephelus morio (Val.) and Mycteroperca bonaci Poey). While moderate consequences of the catches were observed to C. fulva, major consequences were identified to the other five stocks. The main threat to coral reef habitats was found to be mining wastes. Poor governance may constrain fisheries sustainability in the region, while the empowerment of fishers in both governance and post‐harvest processes should enhance it.

We investigated the activity of the multixenobiotic resistance (MXR) phenotype, a biological defense system in aquatic organisms, in the fish assemblages of two tropical estuaries with different degrees of environmental impacts, the Paraiba River and Mamanguape River Estuaries. The aim of this work was to compare the activity of the MXR phenotype of different fishes to test the hypothesis that each species has an inherent activity level and to use this activity as a bioindicator of aquatic contamination. We assessed the MXR activity of the gills, using rhodamine B (RB) accumulation assay. The results demonstrated a species-specific difference in the MXR activity of fishes caught in the same estuarine zone. Also, the pelagic species Eucinostomus melanopterus, Eucinostomus argenteus, and Lutjanus jocu had higher RB accumulation, while the demersal species Sphoeroides testudineus and Sphoeroides greeleyi had the lowest RB accumulation, suggesting that the ecological characteristic of fish in the water column exerts an influence on MXR activity. Besides, we demonstrated the potential of using the gill MXR activity of the key estuarine species, the Brazilian silversides Atherinella brasiliensis, as a tool for biomonitoring estuaries.

Two specimens of the Lessepsian migrant, the Mangrove red snapper Lutjanus argentimaculatus are reported from the Mediterranean coast of Israel. L. argentimaculatus was first recorded in the Mediterranean in 1979 by a single specimen. Over three decades later and only in the last two years four specimens, including the two reported herein, were recorded. This pattern strongly suggests that L. argentimaculatus has established a sustainable population in the Mediterranean.

The potential connectivity network of marine protected areas (MPAs) with spawning aggregations sites in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef system (MBRS) was examined through simulated dispersal of two study cases, Lutjanus analis and Epinephelus striatus larvae. The analysis was based on a particle tracking model incorporating four years of daily horizontal surface currents from the global scale HYCOM 1/12°. We carried out two approaches, the first one used the period of larval duration (PLD) and the second the time of flexion of the notochord as the limit time of dispersion of the particles. Additionally, peak spawning seasons (December-Febraury for E. striatus and March-July for L. analis), lunar phases and georeferenced spawning aggregations sites were considered for releasing the virtual larvae. Our findings suggest that in general, the network of MPAs of the MBRS are well connected, however, the connectivity network structure presented variations in the relative role of each MPA, and their played role will depend on the specie reproductive period, the oceanographic conditions and the assumed biological approximation (such as PLD or flexion). Our analysis suggested a regionalization of the MBRS. A southern region (Bacalar Chico, Roatan and Sapodilla) with low degree of connectivity, moderate self-recruitment rate, and low values of betweenness centrality. A second southern region (Turneff Island, Lighthouse Atoll, Glover Reef Atoll and Gladen Spit) with high rate of self-recruitment (up to 20%) that could be related to self-recruitment due to retention mechanism of the Honduras Gyre, with high values of source of larvae, function as bridges that connect the south zone with the north of the system. A third region (Mahahual and Xcalak) showing sink of larvae, low larval arrival rate but self-recruitment, low values of betweenness centrality area influenced by slow and variable currents and the presence of a southward flow. And a fourth region (Chinchorro, Sian Ka’an, Puerto Morelos and Cozumel) with moderate fast current speed (Yucatan Current), low self-recruitment, larval sink, bridge with the Gulf of Mexico and Florida.

The success of marine management initiatives and our capability for dealing with environmental change largely depend on our understanding regarding the distribution of species and their habitat preferences. In the present study, we deployed baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVs) in a portion of Brazilian central coast (i.e., Todos os Santos Bay) to describe fish species-habitat associations along an estuary-bay-continental shelf gradient. Significant variation in the fish assemblage was found among three ecosystems, four depth classes, and eight different types of habitat, confirming that the structure and composition of fish assemblages is mediated by a set of habitat characteristics forming an ecological mosaic. The highest species richness and relative abundance were found in the mangroves and reefs. The data demonstrated that some species, such as Lutjanus jocu, Lutjanus synagris, Carangoides bartholomaei, Eucinostomus argenteus and Eucinostomus melanopterus had clear ontogenetic shifts among habitats and across ecosystems. Some species (Sphoeroides greeley, L. synagris, and Eucinostomus gula) were widespread along the ecosystem-level gradient and were observed in a number of different habitats, reflecting more generalist habitat associations. By contrast, a large number of species (54; e.g., Ptereleotris randali, Decapterus macarellus and Mugil curema) were recorded in a single habitat type, indicating they were habitat specialists. Despite this apparent habitat-related pattern, the size-mediated relationships found in many species indicate cross-migration along the ecosystem gradient. Our findings have implications for the conservation and monitoring of fish assemblages highlighting the role of the connectivity of marine habitats as a conservation priority toward to an ecosystem-based management strategy.

Investigations on Snapper fish of the genus Lutjanus were conducted from October 2015 to April 2016 in the coral ecosystem of St. Martin’s Island, Bangladesh. Twenty one individuals of 8 species of Lutjanus were collected from local fishermen. Both morphological characters and DNA barcoding approach by mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I subunit (COI) were used to confirm the identification of all species. Present study recorded the first national occurrence of two reef associated Lutjanus species (L. xanthopinnis and L. indicus). In addition six species (L. rivulatus, L. lutjanus, L. vitta, L. lemniscatus, L. fulviflamma and L. johnii) were re-described. Distinct morphological differentiation were found between more closely related species L. xanthopinnis, L. vitta and L. lutjanus. Three different appearances of L. johnii, two different appearances of L. rivulatus and L. lemniscatus were confirmed as same species. Phylogenetic analysis showed monophylotic clade for conspecific individuals and paraphyletic clade for congeneric individuals. Average genetic divergence for intraspecific level was 1.5% and 12.5% for interspecific level. Current study increased the number of Lutjanus species in Bangladesh from 15 to 17 and extended the distribution range of those new recorded species in northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh J. Zool. 46(2): 239-253, 2018

NOTES ABOUT LUTJANUS, ONE OF MAIN COMMODITIES IN CAPTURE FISHERIES. The snapper, genus Lutjanus are commercially important fish species, distributed in tropical to temperate regions all over the world. This group is mostly reef associated marine fishes and several deep-water (>100 m) species. Genus Lutjanus contains the largest number of species, i.e. 72 species in the world and almost 33 species in Indonesian waters. The snappers are dioecious and gonochoristic organisms, this means that they have separate sexes and the sexual differentiation remains constant throughout their life span. They are carnivorous and the diet consist mainly of small fishes, crustaceans, mollucas, and pelagic urochordata.

Understanding the range of habitats needed to complete life-cycles is essential for the effective conservation and management of species. We combined otolith microchemistry, acoustic tracking, and underwater video to determine patterns of seascape use by an assemblage of tropical snappers, including two little-known species of high economic importance, the Papuan black bass (Lutjanus goldiei) and spot-tail snapper (Lutjanus fuscescens). All species appeared to have marine larval phases, and post-settlement distributions broadly overlapped across the coastal seascape. However, species and life stages were distributed along a gradient from freshwater to coastal waters. Lutjanus fuscescens is primarily a freshwater species post-settlement, but larger individuals move into brackish estuaries and even coastal waters at times. Lutjanus goldiei appear to recruit to low salinity or freshwater areas. Larger individuals tend to have home-ranges centred on brackish estuaries, while making regular movements into both coastal waters and freshwater. Lutjanus argentimaculatus also ranged widely from fresh to coastal waters, but juveniles were most common in the saline parts of estuaries. Ontogenetic shifts by L. argentimaculatus were similar to those reported from other regions, despite vast differences in the spatial proximity of seascape components. The wide-ranging seascape movements of our target species highlight the importance of maintaining effective connectivity between marine, estuarine, and freshwaters in the region to maintain ecosystem function and support sustainable sport fisheries. The combined approaches resolved some of the ambiguities of individual methods and provide a powerful approach to understanding seascape use by coastal fishes.

A marine reserve’s effectiveness for sustaining transient spawning reef fish populations is dependent on inclusion of fish spawning aggregations and consideration of the natural spatial boundaries of the populations themselves. Seasonal migrations of Mutton Snapper Lutjanus analis between protected nearshore areas and spawning grounds on Riley’s Hump in Dry Tortugas, Florida, were assessed from 2008 to 2012 by acoustic telemetry. Individual fish showed synchronized reproductive migrations (up to 5 trips fish−1 yr−1) from resident habitats to spawning grounds swimming at an estimated 63 ± 18 cm s−1 (mean ± SD) over minimum linear distances up to 35.2 km. Migrations occurred from April to August, corresponding with the lunar cycle and an increase in water temperature from 25 to 30 °C. Fish arrived on spawning grounds on the full moon and stayed for 7 ± 2 d (mean ± SD). Observations of multiple spawning events made one to five days after the full moon in the late afternoon confirm these movements as spawning migrations. Functional migration areas (109.59 ± 61.01 km2; mean ± SD), which included estimates of staging/courtship/spawning area (4.51 ± 1.84 km2 [mean ± SD]) and home site area (2.50 ± 1.31 km2 [mean ± SD]), were combined to estimate the minimum catchment area of the population studied (291.3 km2). Although this study focuses on movements and habitat use of a single fish species in the Tortugas, the results are relevant to the design of marine reserve networks intended to protect and manage fishes that undergo transient spawning migrations in other locations as well.

In most small-scale fisheries, especially in developing countries, the collection of reliable fishing statistics is not regular, hampering traditional stock assessments. In those data-poor fisheries, a precise knowledge of resources co-occurrence at the ecosystem level, as well as the spatial mapping of fishing activities seem key to support management in a complex fishers-environment context. In the largest South Atlantic coralline reef, the Abrolhos Bank, fisheries are extremely diverse in terms of exploitation capacity, fishing gears, target stocks and operating areas, but any regional fisheries management is currently in place. The aim of this study was to assess, organize, and analyze fisheries of three snappers (Lutjanus jocu, L. synagris and Ocyurus chrysurus), and three groupers (Cephalopholis fulva, Epinephelus morio and Mycteroperca bonaci) along the Abrolhos Bank, with an ultimate goal of proposing useful management units. Surveys were conducted in the main fishing ports, including fishers' interviews and fish size measures in landings. Data analysis allowed a precise fishing characterization, a grouping of stocks co-occurrence, and the mapping of fishing spots and grounds. Three stocks and seven fishing areas clusters were obtained and defined statistically, suggesting useful management units. Specific fishers' groups per fleet were identified as the main stakeholders to be consulted in fisheries plans. Spatial units based on the occurrence of snappers and groupers stocks were defined, having the “Parcel das Paredes” the greatest number of fishing spots and the lower fish sizes. Overall, findings contain unprecedented fine scale resolution units that clarifies and simplifies the connections among species, fleets, fishing areas and fishers. They should also strength the call for action to implement fisheries management in a broader ecosystem-scale context.

Strong relationships exist between reef fishes and their habitat, anthropogenic habitat alterations may lead variations in the associated fish. Knowledge of fish species distribution over coastal areas heavily impacted by tourism over the Mexican Central Pacific is scarce. This work aims to identify the reef fish species on different coastal habitats (sand, rock, mud) present in Puerto Marques Bay. The fish community was characterized in terms of species richness, abundance, feeding behavior and was further assessed using similarity analysis. The number of species and the relative abundance of fish species recorded varied significantly among the habitats (ANOSIM test: R = 0.676, P 0.01, 999 permutations). In rocky areas, the highest value of richness, exclusive species and the number of organisms were recorded. In comparison with soft bottoms, the complexity of hard substrates plays a significant role in reducing prey abundances and providing nesting sites and different food resources such as invertebrates and macroalgae. Mugil cephalus was the only species recorded with muddy habitat affinity, where it feeds on detritus. Predatory species like Caranx caballus, Lutjanus jordani and Lutjanus peru, generally associated with complex rocky substrates were recorded exclusively in sandy areas near to the tourist marina. Although our data do not allow to conclude the anthropogenic outcomes in the reef fish community structure, they suggest that fish assemblage from sandy bottoms could be affected by the presence of artificial structures.

Many reef fishes move between different coastal systems throughout their ontogeny, but these movements are complex and often not understood. In this study, we examined how the dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu) uses marine and estuarine habitats across the Abrolhos Bank shelf (eastern Brazil) through the analysis of elemental signatures in otoliths. Specimens were sampled in an estuary and adjacent marine region. Ba/Ca, Sr/Ca, Mg/Ca and Mn/Ca were measured by LA-ICPMS along the otolith growth axis to cover the entire lifetime of the individual. Change-point analysis, principal component analysis and BRT modeling were used for the objective identification of habitat-use patterns of the species. Otolith Ba/Ca ratios performed better than other elements for tracking L. jocu movements between estuarine and marine habitats, which may result from small variations in salinity and high turbidity levels, as these characteristics are typical of the Abrolhos Bank. Two contrasting habitat-use patterns were identified for L. jocu: i) marine residents (56% of sampled fish) - fish that remain in marine systems throughout their lifetime; and ii) marine migrants (37%) - juveniles inhabit estuaries and move to marine systems with age. These categories were successfully re-classified, which suggests that they are coherent and reliable. Following recent findings of flexible habitat-use patterns in many other fish species, L. jocu habitat requirements also appear to be quite malleable. As the dog snapper has been facing commercial overexploitation in the region, this plasticity in habitat use should be considered in future fisheries management.

The North Kenya Banks (NKB) is the broadest area of continental shelf along the Kenyan coast, and experiences higher productivity relative to neighbouring shelf regions. It is an area of great importance to Kenya with new emerging fisheries that have the potential to improve the livelihoods of local impoverished fishing communities. Managing these emerging fisheries successfully however is challenged by insufficient data on the fisheries and the local marine environment, and the lack of a management plan specifically for the NKB region. Here, baseline information on the ichthyoplankton assemblage across the NKB region during the Southeast Monsoon season is described and analysed to understand the effect biophysical parameters have on larval composition, abundance and distribution. The dominant fish larvae families were Engraulidae (29.5% of total) followed by Sphyraenidae (8.6%), Carangidae (8.2%), Scombridae (6.2%) and Lutjanidae (5.5%), whilst the dominant species within these families were Encrasicholina sp., Sphyraena sp., Thunnus albacares, T. alalunga and Lutjanus sp., respectively. A high prevalence of larvae from migratory species such as T. albacares, T. alalunga and Gempylus serpens was found across the northern part of the NKB, suggesting that the area may be an important nursery area for migratory fish with implications for fisheries across the wider Western Indian Ocean. Zooplankton abundance, temperature and conductivity played a positive role in determining the structure and composition of fish larvae assemblages across the NKB region. The high larval densities encountered out to the shelf break (200 m contour) imply that the NKB is a productive fishery and as such requires appropriate management oversight. Furthermore, the identification of a clear influence by temperature on larval distributions suggests that the NKB fishery may be susceptible to predicted future warming in this region with implications for both management of the resource and those fishing communities who benefit from the fisheries.

Fish resources of the study were landed in the Archipelagic Fishing Port of Brondong and it is dominated by the demersal fish (bottom). The red snapper (Lutjanus spp.) is one of demersal fish that is found in the Archipelagic Fishing port of Brondong. There is a catch on the red snapper (Lutjanus spp.) that takes place continuously without good management. This condition can impact to the decline or fullness of the number of its population, it is necessary to have a review to suspect the potential of sustainable catch and the number of total allowable catch, and the number of total allowable efforts in the management of the sustainable fishing commodity of red snapper (Lutjanus spp.). The data analysis method used is the production surplus model. The result of this research showed that the potential for maximum sustainable catch (YMSY) is 102.88 tons/year and total allowable catch (TAC) is 82.31 tons/year. Maximum sustainable effort (fMSY) is 709 trips/year and total allowable effort is 242 trips/year. utilization rate is 75% where condition in status fully exploited.

Local knowledge is a fundamental source of information for starting spawning aggregation studies in areas where this phenomenon is still unknown or little studied. Among the species that present this reproductive strategy, groupers and snapper represent two of the most relevant components of artisanal and commercial capture worldwide and are highly susceptible to overfishing. We conducted interview-based surveys to examine if local ecological knowledge can determine potential areas of spawning aggregations in southeast Brazil. Fifty-one local fishermen targeting groupers and snappers were asked about spawning aggregation areas and seasonality using charts and geographic information system (GIS) analysis. Information was obtained for 31 potential spawning aggregation sites, where black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) represented the most important resource for the fishermen interviewed, followed by yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus). In addition, red grouper (Epinephelus morio), mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) and dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu) were also mentioned as important resources that have spawning in aggregation as a reproductive strategy. The main possible spawning aggregation areas indicated occur within the Abrolhos Bank, the largest and richest reef complex in the South Atlantic. The lack of published records of spawning aggregations in Brazil, hinders the suitable implementation of measures that can protect this phenomenon and consequently the perpetuation of these and potentially other species. Therefore, additional studies and particularly in situ validation, are needed to determine the occurrence and status of the aforementioned aggregations.

Informasi tentang perikanan tangkap secara menyeluruh masih sangat minim karena terbatas padastatistik perikanan yang diterbitkan oleh Pemerintah Daerah seperti di pulau Timor. Kegiatan penangkapanikan di Pulau Timor masih menerapkan sistem yang sederhana, terutama jika dilihat dari spesifikasi unitpenangkapan ikan yang belum menggunakan peralatan yang rumit dalam pengoperasiannya dan kemampuannelayan. Secara umum, kegiatan penangkapan ikan tidak hanya ditentukan oleh unit penangkapan ikan saja,akan tetapi sangat dipengaruhi juga oleh faktor alam yang bersifat musiman. Perubahan pada kondisioseanografi menyebabkan perubahan terhadap kelimpahan ikan di suatu tempat akibat migrasi ikan, tingkahlaku ikan dan sebagainya. Hal ini selanjutnya menyebabkan terjadinya perubahan daerah penangkapan ikankarena aktivitas nelayan sangat dipengaruhi oleh kondisi laut dan angin sehingga daerah penangkapan ikantidak selalu tetap sepanjang tahun. Tujuan dari kegiatan penelitian ini adalah: 1). Mengetahui spesifikasi unitpenangkapan ikan yang digunakan untuk menangkap ikan kakap di Kabupaten Kupang, 2). Mengetahuidaerah penangkapan ikan kakap (Lutjanus sp.) di Kabupaten Kupang, dan 3) Menganalisis hasil tangkapanikan kakap (Lutjanus sp.) dari jenis alat tangkap yang digunakan untuk menangkap ikan kakap di Kabupaten.Penelitian dilakukan pada bulan Januari-April 2010. Pengumpulan data lapangan dilakukan selama bulanFebruari 2010 dengan mengambil lokasi di Pelabuhan Perikanan Pantai Tenau-Kupang, Provinsi NusaTenggara Timur. Data mengenai daerah penangkapan ikan dan unit penangkapan yang diperoleh, diklasifikasidan dianalisis secara deskriptif dengan menampilkan tabulasi dan gambar peta, sedangkan uji analisis ragam(ANOVA) klasifikasi satu arah digunakan untuk mengetahui produktivitas bulanan ikan kakap dari alattangkap yang digunakan untuk menangkap ikan kakap. Jenis alat tangkap utama yang digunakan untukmenangkap ikan kakap (Lutjanus sp.) di perairan Kabupaten Kupang adalah rawai dasar, pancing ulur, danbubu. Nelayan penangkap ikan kakap (Lutjanus sp.) yang berpangkalan di PPP Tenau, Kabupaten Kupangumumnya beroperasi di perairan yang berterumbu-karang. Lokasi tersebut adalah kawasan yang tidak jauhdari pangkalan, yaitu kota Kupang (1 mil) dan sekitar Pulau Kera (4 mil), serta kawasan yang cukup dari52 Jurnal Teknologi Perikanan dan Kelautan. Vol. 2. No. 1. November 2011: 51-59pangkalan, yaitu di sekitar Pulau Semau (12 mil), Kecamatan Papela (25 mil), Kecamatan Landu (40 mil) danKecamatan Lole (60 mil).Ukuran ikan kakap yang ditangkap oleh rawai dasar lebih besar dari ikan kakap yangtertangkap dengan pancing ulur dan bubu. Hasil tangkapan bulanan ikan kakap terbanyak diperoleh darioperasi rawai dasar, yaitu 57% dari seluruh ikan kakap yang diperoleh selama 14 bulan; pancing ulur dan bubumasing-masing memproduksi ikan kakap sebanyak 37% dan 6%

A passive acoustic telemetry survey was conducted to determine occurrence patterns of commercially important fishes on a steep reef slope along a marine protected area (MPA) in the southern Philippines, where the outer reef edge is often set as an offshore MPA boundary. Based on 4–61 days of tracking data from 21 detected individuals of five species (Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Lutjanus monostigma, Lethrinus atkinsoni, Lethrinus obsoletus, and Siganus guttatus; 20.7–69.2 cm fork length) caught near the reef slope of the MPA, S. guttatus occurred most frequently on the reef flat of the MPA, whereas all individuals of the four lutjanid and lethrinid species were primarily (99.4–100%) detected near the reef slope, and nine individuals (56.3% of these four species) of three of these species (not L. obsoletus) most likely used the shallow (≤10 m) and deep (≥20 m) layers, and thus, middle layers of the slope. These findings indicate that commercially important lutjanid and lethrinid species predominantly and vertically used the areas near the reef slope, suggesting the importance of fully including reef slopes in MPAs to enhance their effectiveness for the conservation of such fishes.

Lutjanids are marine fish and commonly inhabit coral reefs, which have migratory habits and feed in a general way, due to these characteristics, are susceptible to infections by parasites, such as cuculanid nematodes. This work aimed to report for the first time, the occurrence of Dichelyne (Dichelyne) bonacii in Brazil, in two new hosts, Lutjanus analis and Rhomboplites aurorubens, acquired from local artisanal fishermen at the Aracaju city public fishing terminal (10 ° 54’17 “S37 ° 2’56” W), northeast coast of Brazil. Adult nematodes were collected from the intestinal tract of the hosts, clarified in Aman’s Lactophenol and were briefly described here. Three adult males and five gravid females were found, indicating that the two species of fish acted as definitive hosts. Currently, this species of parasite has been reported only from fish collected in the coast of Mexico, which makes this work the first record of this parasite in Brazilian coastal waters. The results show that probably the range of hosts and the distribution of D. (Dichelyne) bonacii is not as restricted as data pointed in the literature, being a little wider, extending also to waters that bathe the Brazilian coast.

WOS: 000499653800014, A specimen of Lutjanus argentimaculatus (Forsskal, 1775) was caught on 4 October 2018 by a commercial gillnet fishery from shallow waters of the Gulf of Izmir, northern Aegean Sea, at a depth of 8 m. the presently reported study constitutes the first record of the mangrove red snapper for the Aegean Sea but also the third record for the Mediterranean Sea.

The low digestibility of cellulose-rich detritus in primary consumers has been considered to limit its incorporation by higher level consumers. A recent study revealed, however, that the sesarmid crab Parasesarma bidens, which is a dominant benthic consumer in East Asian mangrove forests, possesses high cellulase enzyme activity enabling the species to efficiently digest and assimilate refractory detritus. To elucidate whether P. bidens acts as a trophic intermediate facilitating the incorporation of mangrove detritus into the food chain, the food habits of benthivorous fishes within a subtropical mangrove estuary were investigated. Stomach content analyses indicated that crabs, especially P. bidens, made a large contribution to the diets of the fishes examined, including the snapper Lutjanus argentimaculatus and the seabream Acanthopagrus sivicolus, which were both common at the study site. Furthermore, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses revealed that mangrove detritus contributed significantly to all fish species examined, due to their consumption of P. bidens. These findings suggested that the detrital trophic pathway, via crabs with greater ability to digest/assimilate cellulose materials, plays an integral part in maintaining food chain structures in mangrove ecosystems.

As excessive capture activity adversely impacts fisheries sector, fish resources management is a necessity. This study was conducted as a scientific contribution for the managements of bottom longline fisheries in Arafura Waters and areolate grouper (Epinephelus areolatus) as one of the target catches. It was carried out from February to December 2017 and in November 2018. Data on the fishing grounds of eight bottom longline vessels were obtained from the vessel monitoring system (VMS) of Probolinggo Marine and Fisheries Resources Supervisory Unit, Mayangan Probolinggo Fishing Port, and Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance (PSDKP) Tual Station. Based on the analysis of the coordinates from the VMS, the fishing grounds of the bottom longline vessels in Arafura waters were found around Dolak until the border with Merauke and around Timika until Aru Islands. The composition of dominant catches consisted of croaker (Pennahia spp.) and snapper (Lutjanus spp.), as well as grouper (Epinephelus spp.) in a smaller proportion. The size structure of the areolate grouper caught with bottom longlines was 21.5–54.5 cmTL; its length at first capture (Lc) was 33.9 cmTL; and its asymptotic length was 70.5 cmTL. Its growth rate (K) was found 0.26 per year. The fishing mortality (F) of the species was found higher than its natural mortality (M), and its exploitation level (E) was 0.74, meaning that the species was already overfished. The exploitation should be reduced by 40–50% to keep the fish resources in Arafura sustainable, especially for areolate grouper. Keywords: fishing ground, bottom longline, exploitation level, tiger grouper, Arafura

A field research on reef fish-community structures in Natuna waters was carried out in November 2015. This research aimed to obtain the trophic composition of reef fishes and its correlation to diversity, density, and biomass. Underwater visual census on several transect areas was used to collect data. Results show that the identified reef fishes were about 100 species of target-reef fish belonging to 18 families and 23 species of indicator-reef fish of the Chaetodontidae family. The mean species number of target reef fish and indicator reef fish were 42 and 7 species, respectively. The mean density of the target reef fish and indicator reef fish were 0.4 and 0.05 individual per m2, respectively. The mean of the reef fish relative stock was 0.6 ton/ha. The composition of the herbivores mostly found in the resilient coral reefs r was 46.45 % and the omnivores and planktivores as marketable targeted fishes were 18.64 % and 14.28 %, respectively. The most predominant or major families were from herbivorous, carnivorous, planktivorous, and corallivorous fishes, including Scaridae (i.e. Scarus spp), Lutjanidae (i.e. Lutjanus spp.), Caesionidae (i,e. Caesio cuning and Pterocaesio caerulaurea), and Chaetodontidae (i.e. Chaetodon baronessa and Chaetodon octofasciatus). The results suggested that the community structures were quite prospectively implemented for fisheries; however, it may not be promising for coral resilience. Furthermore, the coral health status was at moderate level in regard to the high numbers of corallivorous butterflyfishes.

Otolith chemistry of juvenile and adult individuals of the Brazilian snapper Lutjanus alexandrei was measured to assess the utility of natural markers for investigating individual movements. Individuals were collected over a 3-year period (2010-2012) along the north-eastern coast of Brazil from both estuarine (juvenile to sub-adult stages) and coastal (sub-adult to adult stages) areas. Six elements ((7) Li, (24) Mg, (55) Mn, (59) Co, (88) Sr and (137) Ba) were measured in sectioned otoliths of L. alexandrei using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). Edge composition analysis indicated that element:Ca ratios in the otoliths of juvenile and sub-adult L. alexandrei from estuaries were not significantly different among the three consecutive years (2010, 2011 and 2012), suggesting that physicochemical conditions within the nursery area investigated were temporally stable. Similarly, apart from two elements (Ba and Co), element:Ca ratios for larger L. alexandrei inhabiting coastal waters were also similar. In contrast, otolith chemistry of similar sized L. alexandrei from estuarine and coastal areas was significantly different (based on recently accreted material). Otolith Mn:Ca and Ba:Ca were both significantly higher for L. alexandrei collected in estuaries compared to fish from adjacent coastal reefs, while the opposite trend was observed for Sr:Ca. Given the pronounced differences in otolith chemistry between estuarine and coastal areas, element:Ca transects were constructed from the core to margin of the otoliths for adults (age 7+ years) collected on reefs to determine the timing of movement (ontogenetic migration) from estuarine to coastal areas. Based on observed patterns of decline for both Mn:Ca and Ba:Ca, it appears that L. alexandrei begin the move to more coastal habitats (i.e. lower element:Ca ratios) after age 2 years. The patterns observed for this species highlight the importance of conserving connectivity between coastal habitats to maintain sustainable fish stocks exploited by artisanal fisheries.

The current work investigates dietary overlap and food partitioning among nine abundant carnivorous fishes caught in the shallow waters of the Paraíba do Norte river estuary, Paraíba State, Brazil. Fishes were sampled with a beach seine net between January and December 2008 and a total of 958 specimens had their stomach content analyzed. Crustacea was the dominant food resource for Lutjanus alexandrei, L. jocu and Bathygobius soporator, whereas Telostei were consumed mainly by Centropomus undecimalis and C. parallelus. In contrast, Polychaeta were preyed upon mainly by Diapterus rhombeus, Eucinostomus argenteus, Sciades herzbergii and S. parkeri. Although most species consumed similar food items, they did that in varying proportions and amounts. Overall, the niche overlap among species was low (< 0.60), but there were several cases where pair of species had their feeding niche highly overlapped (between 0.72 and 0.97). These findings corroborate the hypothesis that food resource partitioning determines species coexistence in estuarine tropical environments.

The diel habitat-use patterns of commercially important fishes in a small marine protected area (MPA) (0.31 km 2 ) containing coral reef and seagrass habitats were examined by passive acoustic telemetry during 2011 and 2012. The occurrence patterns of the target fishes both inside and outside the MPA were also observed. Thirty individuals from 6 species (20.2 to 41.4 cm fork length) were caught, acoustically tagged and released inside the MPA, and 4 to 210 d of tracking data were then obtained from 28 detected fishes. Lutjanus monostigma, Lethrinus atkin- soni, and Lethrinus obsoletus were found to mostly inhabit the coral reef. The remaining 3 species (Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Lethrinus harak, and Siganus guttatus) utilized both coral and seagrass habitats but showed different patterns: Lutjanus argentimaculatus visited seagrass only at night; Lethrinus harak occurred in the coral reef more at night than in the day, showing the opposite pattern in seagrass; and S. guttatus exhibited the converse pattern to L. harak. More than one-third of the tracked individuals moved inside and outside the MPA more than once per day on average during the tracking period. However, 95.4% of detections were recorded by acoustic receivers deployed inside the MPA. Underwater visual surveys revealed that the densities of some target fishes were significantly higher inside than outside the MPA. These findings suggest that the MPA protects the core of fish home ranges.

Lutjanus campechanus and Lutjanus purpureus are two commercially important lutjanid fishes (snappers) with non-sympatric distribution throughout Western Atlantic. Even though both taxa have traditionally been regarded as valid species, their taxonomic status remains under debate. In the present study, we used phylogeographic approaches and molecular methods of species delimitation to elucidate the taxonomic issues between both species, based on 1478 base pairs from four genomic regions. We found haplotypes shared between the two species, particularly in relation to nuclear DNA (nuDNA) sequences. The molecular delimitation of species supported the discrimination of L. purpureus and L. campechanus as distinct evolutionary units. Nonetheless, a unidirectional gene flow was found from L. campechanus towards L. purpureus. Therefore, it seems plausible to infer that L. campechanus and L. purpureus are two evolutionary units in which the apparent sharing of haplotypes should be driven by introgression.

Recreational fishing is an important economic and social activity in many countries. However low- and middle-income nations often lack basic data, like catch recording, on this fishery. To gather data to better understand recreational spearfishing catch in Abrolhos Bank, we assessed images posted on Facebook between June 2014 and January 2015. We described species richness, individual fish body size, and trophic group, as well as conservation status and local retail value. A total of 217 images were analyzed, featuring the capture of 962 individuals from 25 species. Captures were composed mainly of the piscivores black grouper Mycteroperca bonaci (36%), dog snapper Lutjanus jocu (35%), and great barracuda Sphyraena barracuda (11%). Herbivores comprised 6% of catches, represented mainly by the endangered the greenback parrotfish Scarus trispinosus. Overall, half of the captured fish were below the first gonadal maturation size and 43% are currently on the national Red List of endangered species. The retail value of 97% of specimens captured was high or very high, composed mainly of species with individuals longer than 40 cm. Social media can provide a complementary data source for recreational fisheries research, offering a rich and dynamic snapshot of these fisheries.

This study evaluates the habitat characteristics, fishing effort, and production, as well as changes in the individuals, such as changes in size frequency, of the spawning aggregations of mutton snapper Lutjanus analis and grey triggerfish Balistes capriscus, caught in the Chinchorro Bank Biosphere Reserve (CBBR), Mexico. The mutton snapper aggregation was located in coral patches, while the spawning aggregation of grey triggerfish was located on the windward terrace of the reef flat. Fishery data was obtained for the duration of the spawning event in 2008, with a total of 5 days for mutton snapper and 4 days for grey triggerfish. The fishery recorded a total of 830 mutton snappers, with individual sizes ranging from 40 to 77 cm in fork length (FL). Individual size and catch per unit effort (CPUE) decreased through time, with the lowest values presented at the end of the 5 days. In contrast, a total of 665 grey triggerfish were recorded in the catch, ranging from 45 to 61 cm (FL) with the largest sizes caught at the end of the fishing period, concurrently with the lowest CPUE. A lack of governance allowed both species to be harvested during their spawning aggregations. The creation of an international body composed of fishers, managers, conservationists, and scientists from the countries belonging to the Mesoamerican Reef System is urgently required to look for agreements in conservation and management strategies of these commercially important species.

Management of wild fisheries resources requires accurate knowledge on which species are being routinely exploited, but it can be hard to identify fishes to species level, especially in speciose fish groups where colour patterns vary with age. Snappers of the genus Lutjanus represent one such group, where fishes can be hard to identify and as a result fisheries statistics fail to capture species-level taxonomic information. This study employs traditional morphological and DNA barcoding approaches to identify adult and juvenile Lutjanus species harvested in Malaysian waters. Our results reveal a suite of species that differs markedly from those that have previously been considered important in the Malaysian wild-capture fishery and show that official fisheries statistics do not relate to exploitation at the species level. Furthermore, DNA barcoding uncovered two divergent groups of bigeye snapper ('Lutjanus lutjanus') distributed on either side of the Malay Peninsula, displaying a biogeographical pattern similar to distributions observed for many co-occurring reef-distributed fish groups. One of these bigeye snapper groups almost certainly represents an unrecognized species in need of taxonomic description. The study demonstrates the utility of DNA barcoding in uncovering overlooked diversity and for assessing species catch composition in a complicated but economically important taxonomic group.

Historical records of ciguatera in Mexico date back to 1862. This review, including references and epidemiological reports, documents 464 cases during 25 events from 1984 to 2013: 240 (51.72%) in Baja California Sur, 163 (35.12%) in Quintana Roo, 45 (9.69%) in Yucatan, and 16 (3.44%) cases of Mexican tourists intoxicated in Cuba. Carnivorous fish, such as snapper (Lutjanus) and grouper (Epinephelus and Mycteroperca) in the Pacific Ocean, and great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) and snapper (Lutjanus) in the Atlantic (Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea), were involved in all cases. In the Mexican Caribbean, a sub-record of ciguatera cases that occurred before 1984 exists. However, the number of intoxications has increased in recent years, and this food poisoning is poorly studied in the region. Current records suggest that ciguatera fish poisoning in humans is the second most prevalent form of seafood poisoning in Mexico, only exceeded by paralytic shellfish poisoning (505 cases, 21 fatalities in the same 34-year period). In this study, the status of ciguatera in Mexico (epidemiological and treatment), and the fish vectors are reviewed. Dinoflagellate species Gambierdiscus, Ostreopsis, and Prorocentrum are related with the reported outbreaks, marine toxins, ecological risk, and the potential toxicological impact.

With the involvement of women in cage farming activities, the village may have opened up a better avenue for the development of aquaculture as well as social upliftment and equal opportunity. In nearby areas to this activity, empowerment of women through cage culture with pearl spot, GIFT tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758)) and red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus (Forsskal 1775)) was earlier reported by Joseph et al. (2016), and for pearl spot cage culture by Kappen et al. (2016).

O objetivo desse trabalho foi descrever a variação espacial e temporal da composição e abundância do ictioplâncton nos canais de maré na ilha Maracá-Jipioca, litoral do Amapá. A temperatura superficial da água e salinidade apresentaram média de 28,5ºC e 11, respectivamente. Durante o mês de novembro foi registrado o menor índice pluviométrico (124 mm), sendo o maior verificado em maio (679 mm). Foram capturadas um total de 18.191 larvas de peixes, classificadas em 36 táxons (18 espécies), destacando-se Eleotridae e Gobiidae como as famílias dominantes contribuindo com 90% do total de larvas coletadas. Dentre as espécies de interesse econômico registrou-se a captura de larvas de Sciaenidae (Cynoscion acoupa, C. leiarchus, Micropogonias furnieri e Stellifer rastrifer), entre outras como Elops sp., Centropomus sp., Lutjanus sp., Mugil sp. e Arius sp. As maiores densidade de larvas ocorreram nas áreas mais internas dos canais, onde foram registradas, também, as maiores temperaturas e menores valores de salinidade. A distribuição temporal provavelmente está associada ao regime sazonal da pluviosidade e pela hidrodinâmica local. A distribuição espacial das larvas indicou alto padrão de similaridade faunística entre os pontos de coleta. Contudo, ressalta-se a importância destes ambientes como áreas de criadouro para espécies de peixes de importância ecológica e econômica, enfatizando a relevância das unidades de conservação para a manutenção dos estoques pesqueiros. Porém recomenda-se mais estudos na região para ampliar as informações sobre a ecologia das fases iniciais de vida dos peixes. Palavras-chave: larvas de peixes, distribuição espaço-temporal, ambiente costeiro, região norte. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18561/2179-5746/biotaamazonia.v5n1p43-52

BACKGROUND: In order to understand feeding ecology and habitat use of coral reef fish, fatty acid composition was examined in five coral reef fishes, Thalassoma lunare, Lutjanus lutjanus, Abudefduf bengalensis, Scarus rivulatus and Scolopsis affinis collected in the Bidong Island of Malaysian South China Sea. RESULTS: Proportions of saturated fatty acids (SAFA) ranged 57.2% 74.2%, with the highest proportions in fatty acids, the second highest was monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) ranged from 21.4% to 39.0% and the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was the lowest ranged from 2.8% to 14.1%. Each fatty acid composition differed among fishes, suggesting diverse feeding ecology, habitat use and migration during the fishes' life history in the coral reef habitats. CONCLUSIONS: Diets of the coral fish species might vary among species in spite of that each species are living sympatrically. Differences in fatty acid profiles might not just be considered with respect to the diets, but might be based on the habitat and migration.

Summary Otolith-based methods were used to determine life history traits of the endemic Brazilian snapper (Lutjanus alexandrei) in estuarine and coastal environments in the south-western Atlantic. Fishes were caught as juveniles inside mangrove-bordered estuaries by traditional corral fisheries whereas adults were captured at sea using motorboats with trap and gill nets. Fish were sampled during landings and 331 otolith pairs were extracted from L. alexandrei. Inshore mangroves comprised individuals of 0–4 years (mean: 2 years), while individuals in deeper reef environments were older (range: 3–22; mean: 8 years), indicating an ontogenetic shift at approximately age 3 or 4. Edge analysis was used to validate the annual deposition in the otoliths, suggesting that opaque growth rings were formed between April and September. Age-at-length data were used to predict L. alexandrei growth rates using the von Bertalanffy growth model from where the parameters were calculated: L∞ = 31 cm, k = 0.24, t0 = −1.26, r2 = 0.97. Mortality rates were estimated for coastal habitats, with Z = 0.22 and S = 0.78 year−1, based on ages 7–17. Additionally, evidence of ontogenetic migration is provided by age and size structure.

Video cameras recorded the diurnal visitation rates of transient (large home range) piscivorous fishes to coral patch reefs in The Bahamas and identified 11 species. Visits by bar jack Caranx ruber, mutton snapper Lutjanus analis, yellowtail snapper Ocyurus chrysurus, barracuda Sphyraena barracuda and cero Scomberomorus regalis were sufficiently frequent to correlate with a range of biophysical factors. Patch-reef visitation rates and fish abundances varied with distance from shore and all species except S. regalis were seen more frequently inshore. This pattern is likely to be caused by factors including close proximity to additional foraging areas in mangroves and on fore-reefs and higher abundances close to inshore nursery habitats. Visitation rates and abundances of C. ruber, L. analis, O. chrysurus and S. regalis also varied seasonally (spring v. winter), possibly as fishes responded to temperature changes or undertook spawning migrations. The abundance of each transient predator species on the patch reefs generally exhibited limited diurnal variability, but L. analis was seen more frequently towards dusk. This study demonstrates that the distribution of transient predators is correlated spatially and temporally with a range of factors, even within a single lagoon, and these drivers are species specific. Transient predators are considered an important source of mortality shaping reef-fish assemblages and their abundance, in combination with the biomass of resident predators, was negatively correlated with the density of prey fishes. Furthermore, transient predators are often targeted by fishers and understanding how they utilize seascapes is critical for protecting them within reserves.

The purpose of this study was to inventory the ichthyofauna of the coastal Pratagi River basin, located on the east coast of the state, region with intense tourist activities. A total of 2,181 specimens were collected, from August 2011 to August 2013, using sieves, trawls, cast nets, traps and gillnets. Additionally, two species (Centropomus sp. and Lutjanus alexandrei) have only been recorded through underwater observations, summing 22 species and genera, 18 families and nine orders. Along the Pratagi drainage some human impacts were identified, mainly related to tourist activities, such as removal of riparian vegetation and sedimentation caused by the passage of vehicles on dunes. Species richness was lower near the most visited places and greater in the lower portion of the basin, due to the presence of estuarine and marine species. Apparently, a set of small waterfalls act as a barrier to some fish species, both upstream and downstream.

Ikan kakap merah (Lutjanus spp.) merupakan salah satu sumberdaya ikan demersal komoditas penting di perairan utara Cirebon, Laut Jawa. Tingginya tingkat operasi penangkapan ikan tradisional di sekitar perairan pantai diduga mempengaruhi ketersediaan stok sumberdaya ikan tersebut. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa telah terjadi over fishing yang disebabkan oleh banyaknya jumlah armada penangkapan ikan tradisional di sekitar perairan pantai, terlebih masih adanya nelayan yang menggunakan alat tangkap yang tidak ramah lingkungan seperti jaring arad (mini trawl) dan selain itu ikan kakap merah yang tertangkap, umumnya merupakan ikan muda yang belum matang gonad atau belum memijah. Sehubungan dengan hal tersebut perlu diatur jumlah armada penangkapan yang dapat beroperasi di perairan pantai dan penegakan peraturan serta pengelolaannya disarankan menggunakan alat tangkap yang selektif seperti menggunakan alat tangkap pancing dengan ukuran mata pancing yang lebih besar dari No. 10 dan pemasangan rumpon dasar diarahkan pada daerah fishing ground baru yang lebih luas dan jauh. Sehingga tekanan terhadap daerah penangkapan ikan kakap merah yang sekarang dapat dikurangi.

Fish stock assessment is a crucial tool for resource management. Small-scale fisheries are often multispecies and multigear. This study focuses on the search for patterns in the Ilheus small-scale fishery using landing data from 2000 to 2006 and climatic data. Ocyurus chrysurus and Ephinephelus spp. were the most commonly landed fish. The number of fishing trips was higher in the winter, when winds were weaker and temperatures lower. When the temperature increased, catches of Seriola dumerili were higher. Coryphaena hippurus and some rays were more abundant in the summer in the presence of stronger winds, intense rainfall and higher air temperature. Large catches of Lutjanus spp. and Scomberomorus spp. were obtained in the autumn. There is an annual seasonality in the fishery, with a cyclical landing pattern regardless of the years considered. These results are important in view of climate change, and specific strategies for better fisheries management are recommended.

A study of Lagos lagoon, Nigeria was undertaken between July 2011 and May 2012 to investigate the level of oxidative stress using the levels of antioxidant enzyme activity and lipid peroxidation product, and to determine the hepatosomatic index (HSI) in the organs of selected fish species. Oxidative stress was evaluated using superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Fish samples were collected from five sampling sites: Ijora/Iddo, Makoko, Egbin, Ibese and the Midlagoon, considered as a reference site. Air and surface water temperatures, pH, conductivity, salinity and turbidity were determined using a multi-meter water checker (Horiba U10) at each of the sampling points. The air temperature ranged between 26.3 and 28.0oC while water temperature was between 28.3 and 31.0oC. Conductivity, pH and salinity had values range from 23.4 to 31.7 mScm-1, 8.0 to 8.3, and 14.6‰ to 20.1‰ respectively. The highest Malondialdehyde (MDA) (146.11 μmol ml-1) for liver was observed in Lutjanus guinensis collected at Makoko in May 2012 while 181.33μmol ml-1 was observed in the gonad of Pseudotolithus elongatus collected from Ibese in September 2011. The highest superoxide dismutase in the liver was observed in Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus collected from Ibese in July 2011. In the gonad, the highest SOD was observed in Brachydeuterus auritus collected from Makoko in July 2011. Generally, the MDA levels were higher than the corresponding SOD activity in fish livers and gonads. The HSI values ranged from 0.2 to 18.4 while low HSI values were found mostly in the dry season during the period of sampling. The result suggests that the activity of SOD, lipid peroxidation product and HSI can be used as biomonitoring tool for easy assessment of the lagoon environment.

Since the 1950s, artisanal fishers from southern Belize have harvested mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) from the Gladden Spit fish spawning aggregation site. In 2000, the Government of Belize partnered with stakeholders to conserve the area and co-manage the fishery. The objective of this study was to present the history of the artisanal mutton snapper fishery in its environmental and socioeconomic context and qualitatively evaluate its present status. We identified long-term trends in the fishing activity through historical catch reconstructions and estimation of fishing fleet size since the late 1980s, statistically compared inter-annual trends in catch per unit effort (CPUE) and in mutton snapper sizes between 1999 and 2011, and delineated possible factors that might have caused the observed patterns. Our data show a sharp reduction in total landings and fishing effort that started in the late 1980s, parallel to a rapid growth in the tourism industry and to a shift in the livelihoods of many fishers. Annual CPUE, individual sizes, and sex ratios have been relatively stable between 1999 and 2011, indicating persistence of the fishery during this recent period. Key to successful long-term, adaptive co-management of the fishery is a continued involvement of fishers and other stakeholders in resource monitoring and evaluation, as well as in policy and decision making.

Understanding the spatial distribution of a species is an important precondition to successfully managing marine populations. For reef fishes, this is of particular importance due to the patchy nature of reef communities. This study estimated the spatial distribution of five reef fish species on the West Florida Shelf: gag grouper ( Mycteroperca microlepis ), mutton snapper ( Lutjanus analis) , red grouper ( Epinephelus morio ), red snapper ( Lutjanus campechanus ), and vermilion snapper ( Rhomboplites aurorubens ). Estimation was done by combining large-scale fishery-dependent catch per unit of fishing effort with small scale fishery-independent video survey observation. Catch per unit of fishing effort was obtained from vessel logbook data while video observations of reef fish presence–absence and relative abundance were made by stratified random sampling on known reef and hard-bottom habitat in the Gulf of Mexico. Relative abundance estimates showed different abundance patterns for the five species depending on depth and geographical area. Variogram modeling suggested that gag grouper, mutton snapper, and red grouper were spatially autocorrelated on reef or hard-bottom habitats at short ranges of between 0.87 and 0.95 km, while red and vermilion snapper were found to be randomly distributed. Range estimates for gag grouper, mutton snapper and red grouper were supported by variograms of depth soundings in the Gulf which produced range estimates of between 1.56 and 6.34 km. Combining the relative estimates of abundance from catch per unit of effort with the spatial autocorrelation parameters from video surveys allowed us to provide stochastic fish abundance estimates at scales of about 2 km 2 .