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

AUGUST 2005 FINAL REPORT
in the aquarium trade (Froese and Pauly 2004). There are no species of rabbitfish listed on the IUCN
Red List of threatened species located within the study area (IUCN 2004).
Distribution—Rabbitfish are found throughout the Indo-Pacific and eastern Mediterranean (Froese
and Pauly 2004).
Habitat Preferences—Rabbitfish are usually associated with shallow coastal waters to a depth of
approximately 50 m. Some species live in pairs among corals, while others live in schools around
rock and coral reefs, mangroves, estuaries, and brackish lagoons (Woodland 2001). Rabbitfish are
common on reef flats, around small, scattered coral heads, and near grass flats at depths less than
15 m. Juveniles of certain species are estuarine and larvae are pelagic (WPRFMC 2001). Eggs are
usually adhesive and demersal but at least one species the schooling rabbitfish (S. aregenteus), is
known to have pelagic eggs (WPRFMC 2001). Rabbitfish can be divided into schooling species and
pairing species. Schooling species of rabbitfish tend to occupy a wide range of habitats, whereas,
pairing species tend to remain in one area usually among branches of hard corals (WPRFMC 2001).
Life History—Rabbitfish spawning typically corresponds to a lunar cycle with peak activity in the
spring and early summer (May to June). The timing of the spawning may be influenced by the
variation of environmental factors including water temperature, photoperiod, and food abundance
(Takemura et al. 2004). Spawning may occur in pairs or groups on outgoing tides either at night or
early in the morning. Spawning rabbitfish generally migrate to specific spawning sites such as
mangrove stands, shallow reef flats, the outer reef crest, or the deeper reef (WPRFMC 2001).
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 bottom habitat and the adjacent water column from 0 to 100 m.
♦ Sphyraenidae (Barracudas)
Status—Two species of the family Sphyraenidae are managed in Micronesia as part of the CHCRT
by the WPRFMC (2001). Both species are reported as occurring in CNMI and Guam (Amesbury and
Myers 2001; Myers and Donaldson 2003) and have EFH designated within the boundaries of the
study area (WPRFMC 2001; NMFS 2004c). In addition, the remaining 4 species of barracudas found
in the study area have designated EFH under the PHCRT (WPRFMC 2001). Currently, no data are
available to determine if barracudas of the CHCRT are approaching an overfished situation (NMFS
2004a). In the western Pacific, barracudas are marketed fresh, frozen, dried, salted, or smoked
(Senou 2001). There are no species of barracuda listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species
located within the study area (IUCN 2004).
Distribution—Barracudas can be found in tropical and subtropical waters in the Atlantic, Indian, and
Pacific Oceans (Froese and Pauly 2004).
Heller’s barracuda, Sphyraena helleri, can be found from southern Japan south to the Coral Sea and
east to French Polynesia. This species is common around the oceanic islands of the Pacific (Forese
and Pauly 2004).
The great barracuda, S. barracuda, is found in the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and east coast of
Africa to the Hawaiian, Marquesan, and Tuamoto Islands. This species is found throughout
Micronesia (Froese and Pauly 2004).
Habitat Preferences—Barracudas are pelagic to demersal fish, most of which inhabit shallow coastal
waters such as bays, estuaries, or the vicinity of coral reefs. This family may also be found at the
surface of open oceans down to depths greater than 100 m (Senou 2001). Barracudas may be found
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