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

AUGUST 2005 FINAL REPORT
Distribution—Clupeids are distributed worldwide in freshwater and marine systems and are
represented by four genera in Micronesia and the Indo-Pacific region (Nelson 1994; Myers 1999).
Habitat Preferences—Represented by the subfamily Dussumierinae, both tropical sprat species
occur in coastal water habitats over sand, mud, rock, and coral reefs from the surface down to 20 m
(WPRFMC 2001). The blue sprat schools near the surface of clear coastal waters, lagoons, and reef
margins during feeding, whereas the sharp-nosed sprat inhabits deep lagoons and the outer reef
slopes (Myers 1999).
Life History—Clupeid eggs are spherical and thought to be pelagic in all tropical taxa except
Spratelloides which has demersal eggs (Leis and Trnski 1989).
♦ Engraulidae (Anchovies)
Status—Seven anchovy species are managed in Micronesia as part of PHCRT by the WPRFMC
(2001). Four of these 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 anchovies of the PHCRT are
approaching an overfished situation (NMFS 2004a). Anchovies are commercially important being
utilized as live bait for pole and line tuna fisheries (Myers 1999; Wongratana et al. 1999). None of the
species found in the study area are listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species (IUCN 2004).
Distribution—Anchovies are distributed in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans represented by
three genera in Micronesia of the Indo-Pacific region (Nelson 1994; Myers 1999).
Habitat Preferences—Anchovies typically inhabit estuaries and turbid coastal waters, but some
occur over inner protected reefs, and at least one species, the oceanic or buccaneer anchovy
(Encrasicholina punctifer) is found in large atoll lagoons or deep, clear bays (WPRFMC 2001).
Juvenile and adult anchovies are planktivores utilizing the surface waters over sand, mud, rock, or
coral reef habitats (Myers 1999). The little priest (Thryssa baelama) anchovy occurs in large schools
in turbid waters of river mouths and inner bays (WPRFMC 2001).
Life History—Anchovy eggs are pelagic and subject to advection by ocean currents (WPRFMC
2001). In the genera Thryssa, eggs are spherical and small to moderate in size, whereas the genera
Encrasicholina and Stolephorus, eggs are ovate to elliptical and vary from small to large (Leis and
Trnski 1989).
♦ Gobiidae (Gobies)
Status—In Micronesia, 159 gobies are managed as part of PHCRT by the WPRFMC (2001). At least
122 goby 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 gobies of the PHCRT are approaching an
overfished situation (NMFS 2004a). Most gobies have no commercial or recreational importance
other than food for larger fishes (Larson and Murdy 2001). None of the species found in the study
area are listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species (IUCN 2004).
Distribution—Gobies are distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical seas represented by 212
genera in the Indo-Pacific region (WPRFMC 2001; Allen et al. 2003).
Habitat Preferences—Gobies occur in a variety of habitats such as rocky shorelines, coral reefs,
reef flats, shallow seaward reefs, sand flats, and seagrass beds (Myers 1999). The majority of gobies
utilize the coral reef habitat where they exhibit high diversity and abundance, but may occur in
adjacent coastal and estuarine waters (Larson and Murdy 2001). Many gobies also occupy a wide
variety of substrata ranging from mud to rock or coral or live in close association with other marine
organisms such as sponges, gorgonians, or snapping shrimps at depths from 1 to 48 m (Debelius
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