Marine Resources Assessment for the Marianas Operating ... - SPREP

AUGUST 2005 FINAL REPORT
♦ Muraenidae (Moray Eels)
Status—Three species of the family Muraenidae (Moray eels) are managed in Micronesia as part of
the CHCRT by the WPRFMC (2001) and occur in the CNMI and Guam (Amesbury and Myers 2001;
Myers and Donaldson 2003). All three species have EFH designated within the boundaries of the
study area (WPRFMC 2001; NMFS 2004c). In addition, the remaining 43 species of moray eels found
in the study area have designated EFH under the PHCRT (WPRFMC 2001). Currently, no data are
available to determine if moray eels of the CHCRT are approaching an overfished situation (NMFS
2004a). There is no commercial fishery for morays and most are taken as incidental catch but they
are sold in fish markets and readily eaten in the western Pacific (Bohlke et al. 1999). These species
are also targets of the aquarium trade. None of the species found in the study area are listed on the
IUCN Red List of threatened species (IUCN 2004).
Distribution—Morays are found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters (Froese and Pauly
2004).
The yellow-edged moray, Gymnothorax flavimarginatus, ranges throughout the Indo-Pacific from the
Red Sea and South Africa eastward to the Tuamoto and Austral islands, north to the Ryukyu and
Hawaiian Islands and south to New Caledonia (Froese and Pauly 2004).
The giant moray, G. javanicus, can be found throughout the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and East
Africa to the Marquesas and Oeno Atoll (Pitcairn Group), north to the Ryukyu and Hawaiian Islands,
south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands (Froese and Pauly 2004).
The undulated moray, G. undulatus, is distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and
East Africa, including Walter Shoal, to French Polynesia, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian
Islands, south to the southern Great Barrier Reef (Froese and Pauly 2004).
Habitat Preferences—Most species of moray are benthic and can be found in shallow-waters around
rocks or reefs. Some species are associated with sand or mud bottoms and have been caught as
deep as 500 m (Bohlke et al. 1999). Juvenile and adult morays lurk in holes and crevices during the
day and emerge at night to search the reef for food (Waikiki Aquarium 1999a). Moray eggs pelagic
and the leptocephalic larvae are epipelagic (WPRFMC 2001; Forese and Pauly 2004).
The yellow-edged moray inhabits tropical waters between 30°N and 24°S at depths from 1 to 150 m.
This species can be found along drop-offs and in coral or rocky areas of reef flats and protected
shorelines to seaward reefs (Froese and Pauly 2004).
The giant moray inhabits tropical waters between 30°N and 25°S at depths from 0 to 50 m. This
species is found in lagoons and seaward reefs and is frequently found along drop-offs and slopes in
Indonesian waters. Juveniles tend to inhabit intertidal reef flats (Froese and Pauly 2004).
The undulated moray inhabits tropical waters from 32°N to 28°S at depths from 0 to 30 m. This
species is common on reef flats among rocks rubble or debris and in lagoons and seaward reefs to
depths greater than 26 m (Froese and Pauly 2004).
Life History—Information is lacking on the life history of this family (WPRFMC 2001). Migration has
been observed in some species of morays but most tropical species remain in their home territories
or congregate in small groups in certain areas (Debelius 2002).
EFH Designations—(WPRFMC 2001; Figures D-10, D-14, and D-18; Table 4-5)
Eggs and Larvae―The water column from the shoreline to the outer boundary of the EEZ to
a depth of 100 m.
Juvenile and Adult―All rocky coral areas and the adjacent water column and the adjacent
water column from 0 to 100 m.
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