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A comprehensive guide to the tarpon and bonefish species, this book provides an overview of world tarpon and bonefish fisheries including their dynamics and status. Chapters cover tarpon and bonefish life history, age and growth, behavior, physiology, genetics, reproduction and recruitment, and movements and migrations. The book examines fishing and fishery exploitation, habitat-animal relationships and stock enhancement, ecosystem management, and fishery management experiences from various areas of the world. Highlighting the lore and appeal of these species of fish, the book recommends strategies to improve the sustainability of these valuable fisheries.
List of contents
World Fisheries for Tarpon and Bonefish, Biology and Life History Dynamics, Population Dynamics and Resource Ecology, Lore and Appeal of Fishing for Tarpon and Bonefish, Ecosystem-Based Management and Sustainable Fisheries, Index
About the author
Jerald S. Ault
Summary
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 fish.
