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

AUGUST 2005 FINAL REPORT
Habitat Preferences—Filefishes are found in lagoons, shallow coral and rocky reefs, seaward reefs
with steeply sloping areas, and seagrass beds in depths ranging from 10 m to over 220 m (Myers
1999; Hutchins 2001). Adults are solitary or occur in pairs, while some juvenile species form schools
(Debelius 2001).
Life History—Little is known of the reproduction of most filefish species (Debelius 2002). Some
species are sexually dimorphic (WPRFMC 2001) and lay demersal eggs in nests near the base of
dead corals that may be guarded by at least one of the parents (Myers 1999).
♦ Caesionidae (Fusiliers)
Status—Ten fusilier species are managed in Micronesia as part of PHCRT by the WPRFMC (2001).
Four 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 fusiliers of the PHCRT are approaching an overfished
situation (NMFS 2004a). Fusiliers are important in coral-reef fisheries where they are utilized as bait
fish for tuna fisheries (Carpenter 2001c). None of the species found in the study area are listed on the
IUCN Red List of threatened species (IUCN 2004).
Distribution—Fusiliers occur in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region (Allen et al. 2003).
Habitat Preferences—Fusiliers are schooling, planktivorous fishes that are close relatives of the
lutjanid snappers (Debelius 2002). They are abundant along steep outer reef slopes and around deep
lagoon pinnacles over softbottoms (Myers 1999). During the day, fusiliers typically congregate in
large, fast swimming zooplankton-feeding mixed aggregations in mid-water around reefs (Allen et al.
2003). At night, fusiliers shelter in crevices and under coral heads (WPRFMC 2001).
Life History—Fusiliers have a prolonged spawning season with recruitment peaks occurring once or
twice a year (WPRFMC 2001). The yellowback fusilier (Casio teres) has been observed spawning in
large schools around a full moon. This species migrates at dusk in large groups during slack tide.
During spawning they stay near the surface and subgroups within the mass swirl rapidly in circles and
release gametes (Carpenter 1988).
♦ Antennariidae (Frogfishes)
Status—Twelve frogfish species are managed in Micronesia as part of PHCRT by the WPRFMC
(2001). Nine 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 frogfishes of the PHCRT are
approaching an overfished situation (NMFS 2004a). Aside from their value in the aquarium trade,
frogfishes have no significant economic interest in the western central Pacific (Pietsch 1999). None of
the species found in the study area are listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species (IUCN
2004).
Distribution—Frogfishes occur in all subtropical and tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region and
occasionally temperate waters (Nelson 1994).
Habitat Preferences—Frogfishes are found in estuaries and turbid coastal waters, but occur in low
number and are rare on most coral reefs areas (WPRFMC 2001). Habitats include seagrass beds,
algae, sponge, seaward reefs, and rock or corals within tidepools and lagoon (Waikiki Aquarium
1999e).
Life History—Spawning female frogfishes lay thousands of tiny eggs within large, (raft)-shaped
gelatinous masses at 3 to 4 day intervals (Myers 1999).
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