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

AUGUST 2005 FINAL REPORT
Donaldson 2003) and have EFH designated within the boundaries of the study area (WPRFMC 2001;
NMFS 2004c). Currently, no data are available to determine if coral crouchers of the PHCRT are
approaching an overfished situation (NMFS 2004a). None of the species found in the study area are
listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species (IUCN 2004).
Distribution—Coral crouchers are distributed in the Indian and Pacific Oceans (Nelson 1994).
Habitat Preferences—Coral crouchers inhabit branches of certain Stylophora, Pocillopora, and
Acropora corals at depths from 0 to 10 m where they tightly wedge themselves into the coral
branched when disturbed (Myers 1999). Other than their close association with corals, little is known
of their biology (Poss 1999b).
Life History—The spawning mode and development at hatching of coral crouchers is not known
(WPRFMC 2001).
♦ Grammistidae (Soapfishes)
Status—Six species of soapfish are managed in Micronesia as part of PHCRT by the WPRFMC
(2001). All six species occur in the 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). Currently, no data are available to determine if soapfishes of the PHCRT are
approaching an overfished situation (NMFS 2004a). None of the species found in the study area are
listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species (IUCN 2004).
Distribution—Soapfishes are distributed in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean represented by
five genera in Micronesia of the Indo-Pacific region (Myers 1999; WPRFMC 2001).
Habitat Preferences—Soapfishes are small, grouper-like, secretive fishes that occur on reef flats,
shallow lagoon, outer reef slopes, and wave-washed seaward reefs (WPRFMC 2001). They often
hide in small caves, under ledges or in holes at depths up to 150 m (Myers 1999).
Life History—The soapfish, like the grouper, are generally unisex. All species are solitary and
territorial. Liopropoma has pelagic eggs, whereas Pseudogramma has large demersal eggs
(WPRFMC 2001).
♦ Aulostomidae (Trumpetfishes)
Status—One trumpetfish species, Aulostomus chinensis, is managed in Micronesia as part of
PHCRT by the WPRFMC (2001). This species occurs in the CNMI and Guam (Amesbury and Myers
2001; Myers and Donaldson 2003) and has EFH designated within the boundaries of the study area
(WPRFMC 2001; NMFS 2004c). Currently, no data are available to determine if the trumpetfish of the
PHCRT is approaching an overfished situation (NMFS 2004a). It has no commercial importance, but
is occasionally taken as by-catch in artisanal fisheries (Fritzsche and Thiesfeld 1999a). This species
is not listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species (IUCN 2004).
Distribution—The trumpetfish is distributed in the tropical Atlantic and Indo-Pacific region occurring
in Hawai’i, Micronesia, and American Somoa (Nelson 1994; WPRFMC 2001).
Habitat Preferences—Trumpetfish occur in virtually all reef habitats except areas of heavy surge to a
depth of 122 m (Myers 1999). These fish are solitary ambush predators which hover vertically among
branches of corals and seagrasses, hide within schools of surgeonfishes, or use the body of a large
parrotfish as cover to approach unsuspecting prey (Waikiki Aquarium 1999c).
Life History—Spawning of trumpetfishes has been reported occurring at dusk when individual males
and females ascend to a depth of 5 to 8 m to release gametes before returning to the bottom
(WPRFMC 2001).
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