E-Book Overview
The core of a multibillion dollar sport fishing industry, tarpon and bonefish, two of the earth’s oldest creatures, are experiencing obvious and precipitous population decline. Experienced anglers in the Florida Keys suggest a drop of approximately 90-95 percent for the bonefish population over the last 65 years. Despite the economic value of the industry and scientific value of these ancient fish, very little information is available about their movements and migrations, population dynamics, life histories, and reproductive habits. With contributions from some of the world’s leading experts, Biology and Management of the World Tarpon and Bonefish Fisheries synthesizes existing scientific literature, presents new perspectives, and introduces original scientific research to guide fishery management and conservation efforts for building sustainable fisheries. Divided into five sections, the book begins with an overview of the state of the world’s fisheries for tarpon and bonefish. The second section reviews the biology and life history dynamics of these fish with contributions on conservation genetics, reproductive biology and early life development, as well as resolving gaps in evolutionary lineage and taxonomy. Covering population dynamics and resource ecology, the third section discusses migratory patterns and the use of tagging. Highlighting the lore and appeal of these fascinating sport fish, the book concludes by introducing a myriad of proposals designed to improve fishery sustainability by conducting census, enforcing catch-and-release programs, and supporting science-based management decision making. Promoting a better understanding of the biological and fishery management issues that are paramount to the sustainable future of these valuable fishery resources, Biology and Management of the World Tarpon and Bonefish Fisheries provides a foundation for discussion and broad communication about the past present and future of these magnificent sport fish.
E-Book Content
Biology and Management of the World Tarpon and Bonefish Fisheries CRC_2792_FM.indd i 8/8/2007 4:53:31 PM Marine Biology SERIES Peter L. Lutz, Editor PUBLISHED TITLES Biology of Marine Birds E. A. Schreiber and Joanna Burger Biology of the Spotted Seatrout Stephen A. Bortone The Biology of Sea Turtles, Volume II Peter L. Lutz, John A. Musick, and Jeanette Wyneken Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives Jeffrey C. Carrier, John A. Musick, and Michael R. Heithaus Early Stages of Atlantic Fishes: An Identification Guide for the Western Central North Atlantic William Richards The Physiology of Fishes, Third Edition David H. Evans Biology of the Southern Ocean, Second Edition George A. Knox Biology of the Three-Spined Stickleback Sara Östlund-Nilsson, Ian Mayer, and Felicity Anne Huntingford CRC_2792_FM.indd ii 8/8/2007 4:53:32 PM Biology and Management of the World Tarpon and Bonefish Fisheries Edited by Jerald S. Ault Boca Raton London New York CRC Press is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business CRC_2792_FM.indd iii 8/8/2007 4:53:32 PM The cover painting is courtesy of Jorge Martinez. The logo on the book spine and title page is courtesy of Guy Harvey. CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300 Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742 © 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business No claim to original U.S. Government works Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-8493-2792-6 (Hardcover) This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted materi