|
Spawning
aggregations are critical bottlenecks in the life-histories
of many reef fish families and are particularly vulnerable
to over-fishing; huge catches of mature breeding adults can
be taken with relatively little effort when large numbers of
fish are concentrated in such small areas with potentially
far reaching affects for the fish population.
 |
|
|
Large
grouper depletions are cause for concern.
Photo D. Rowat |
|
Concerns
over the status of spawning aggregations and the
sustainability of certain fish stocks, particularly large
groupers, has led the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) to
embark on a research programme that aims to investigate the
issue. SFA has been awarded a competitive research
grant to study and develop management plans for reef fish
spawning aggregations. The grant falls under the
Marine Science for Management (MASMA) funding programme of
the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (WIOMSA).
Collaborators include the Ministry of Health, the University
of Stockholm, Sweden, and the Society for the Conservation
of Reef Fish Aggregations (SCRFA).
Spawning aggregations are not only important events
for the species that form them but may also be important for
other species as well. On the Belize Barrier
Reef in the
Caribbean
, whale sharks appear annually at Snapper spawning sites to
feast on the huge production of Snapper gametes.
|
 |
|
Whale
shark feeding at the surface. Photo Bob Wharton |
Whether or not such a pattern occurs in
Seychelles
will be investigated over the coming years, but it is
exciting to think that whale shark migrations in our waters
may, to some extent, be tied to reef fish spawning events.
|
