Protection Priorities
Keeping a Low Profile
When FSAs are discovered, it is extremely important that their locations be kept confidential. The publication or advertisement of such information may lead to the overexploitation and subsequently the disappearance of FSAs. Scientists and managers must also be cautious to avoid disclosing these locations.
Fish spawning aggregations are critical in the life cycle of fish that use this reproductive strategy. Protecting these sources of larvae is a high priority for sustaining fisheries and building resilience into marine reserve networks. In order to maintain fish stocks at proper levels for a healthy, profitable fishery, FSAs need to be protected from exploitation.
Most fishes that form spawning aggregations use multiple habitats throughout their development. For example, many reef fish, including groupers and snappers, begin their lives in the pelagic environment as eggs and larvae. Following settlement, juveniles may recruit to shallow reefs, mangroves or seagrass habitats1, with a gradual ontogenetic (developmental) shift to shallower and then deeper reefs. Following maturity, (transient) FSA forming species will migrate to specific sites for mass spawning. FSA management strategies will, therefore, need to consider all life history stages.
Map of Glover’s reef showing different protection priorities: spawning areas are designated as fully protected, other areas are designated for partial protection. Modified from Starr et al. 2007
When FSAs are discovered, it is extremely important that their locations be kept confidential. The publication or advertisement of such information may lead to the overexploitation, and subsequent disappearance, of FSAs before management can be effectively implemented. It should be noted that while there may be some FSAs which are more vulnerable than others, all FSAs should be considered priority areas for protection. FSAs are valuable sources of recruits to populations, and their disappearance is likely to have many adverse affects on local, and even regional, ecosystems and economies.
Example: Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve
The map to the right shows the established protection priorities at Glover’s Reef atoll in Belize. Two important FSAs are fully protected. The conservation zone is a no-take area, allowing for the protection of spawning stock biomass. The General Use Zone has certain gear restrictions that prevent destructive fishing practices. The Seasonal Closure Zone protects a Nassau Grouper FSA, and the Conservation Zone protects a multi-species FSA.
1 Lindeman et al. 2000