The contribution of macroalgae-associated fishes to small-scale tropical reef fisheries

Wilson, SK; Fulton, CJ; Graham, NAJ; A. Abesamis, R; Berkström, C; Coker, DJ; Depczynski, M; Evans, RD; Fisher, R; Goetze, J; Hoey, A; Holmes, TH; Kulbicki, M; Noble, M; Robinson, JW; Bradley, M; Åkerlund, C; Barrett, LT; Bucol, AA; Birt, MJ; Chacin, DH; Chong-Seng, KM; Eggertsen, L; Eggertsen, M; Ellis, D; Leung, PTY; Lam, PKS; van Lier, J; Matis, PA; Pérez-Matus, A; Piggott, CVH; Radford, BT; Tano, S; Tinkler, P

The contribution of macroalgae-associated fishes to small-scale tropical reef fisheries

Wilson, SK Fulton, CJ Graham, NAJ A. Abesamis, R Berkström, C Coker, DJ Depczynski, M Evans, RD Fisher, R Goetze, J Hoey, A Holmes, TH Kulbicki, M Noble, M Robinson, JW Bradley, M Åkerlund, C Barrett, LT Bucol, AA Birt, MJ Chacin, DH Chong-Seng, KM Eggertsen, L Eggertsen, M Ellis, D Leung, PTY Lam, PKS van Lier, J Matis, PA Pérez-Matus, A Piggott, CVH Radford, BT Tano, S Tinkler, P

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Publisher:: Wiley
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Fish and Fisheries, 2022, 23, (4), pp. 847-861
Issue Date:: 2022-07-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Wilson, SK
dc.contributor.author	Fulton, CJ
dc.contributor.author	Graham, NAJ
dc.contributor.author	A. Abesamis, R
dc.contributor.author	Berkström, C
dc.contributor.author	Coker, DJ
dc.contributor.author	Depczynski, M
dc.contributor.author	Evans, RD
dc.contributor.author	Fisher, R
dc.contributor.author	Goetze, J
dc.contributor.author	Hoey, A
dc.contributor.author	Holmes, TH
dc.contributor.author	Kulbicki, M
dc.contributor.author	Noble, M
dc.contributor.author	Robinson, JW
dc.contributor.author	Bradley, M
dc.contributor.author	Åkerlund, C
dc.contributor.author	Barrett, LT
dc.contributor.author	Bucol, AA
dc.contributor.author	Birt, MJ
dc.contributor.author	Chacin, DH
dc.contributor.author	Chong-Seng, KM
dc.contributor.author	Eggertsen, L
dc.contributor.author	Eggertsen, M
dc.contributor.author	Ellis, D
dc.contributor.author	Leung, PTY
dc.contributor.author	Lam, PKS
dc.contributor.author	van Lier, J
dc.contributor.author	Matis, PA
dc.contributor.author	Pérez-Matus, A
dc.contributor.author	Piggott, CVH
dc.contributor.author	Radford, BT
dc.contributor.author	Tano, S
dc.contributor.author	Tinkler, P
dc.date.accessioned	2023-07-10T08:44:18Z
dc.date.available	2023-07-10T08:44:18Z
dc.date.issued	2022-07-01
dc.identifier.citation	Fish and Fisheries, 2022, 23, (4), pp. 847-861
dc.identifier.issn	1467-2960
dc.identifier.issn	1467-2979
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/171409
dc.description.abstract	Macroalgae-dominated reefs are a prominent habitat in tropical seascapes that support a diversity of fishes, including fishery target species. To what extent, then, do macroalgal habitats contribute to small-scale tropical reef fisheries? To address this question we: (1) Quantified the macroalgae-associated fish component in catches from 133 small-scale fisheries, (2) Compared life-history traits relevant to fishing (e.g. growth, longevity) in macroalgal and coral-associated fishes, (3) Examined how macroalgae-associated species can influence catch diversity, trophic level and vulnerability and (4) Explored how tropical fisheries change with the expansion of macroalgal habitats using a case study of fishery-independent data for Seychelles. Fish that utilised macroalgal habitats comprise 24% of the catch, but very few fished species relied entirely on macroalgal or coral habitats post-settlement. Macroalgal and coral-associated fishes had similar life-history traits, although vulnerability to fishing declined with increasing contribution of macroalgae association to the catch, whilst mean trophic level and diversity peaked when macroalgal-associated fish accounted for 20%–30% of catches. The Seychelles case study revealed similar total fish biomass on macroalgal and coral reefs, although the biomass of primary target species increased as macroalgae cover expanded. Our findings reinforce that multiple habitat types are needed to support tropical fishery stability and sustainability. Whilst coral habitats have been the focus of tropical fisheries management, we show the potential for macroalgae-associated fish to support catch size and diversity in ways that reduce vulnerability to overfishing. This is pertinent to seascapes where repeated disturbances are facilitating the replacement of coral reef with macroalgal habitats.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Wiley
dc.relation.ispartof	Fish and Fisheries
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/faf.12653
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	0602 Ecology, 0704 Fisheries Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Fisheries
dc.subject.classification	3005 Fisheries sciences
dc.subject.classification	3103 Ecology
dc.subject.classification	4104 Environmental management
dc.title	The contribution of macroalgae-associated fishes to small-scale tropical reef fisheries
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	23
utslib.for	0602 Ecology
utslib.for	0704 Fisheries Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-07-10T08:44:16Z
pubs.issue	4
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	23
utslib.citation.issue	4

Abstract:

Macroalgae-dominated reefs are a prominent habitat in tropical seascapes that support a diversity of fishes, including fishery target species. To what extent, then, do macroalgal habitats contribute to small-scale tropical reef fisheries? To address this question we: (1) Quantified the macroalgae-associated fish component in catches from 133 small-scale fisheries, (2) Compared life-history traits relevant to fishing (e.g. growth, longevity) in macroalgal and coral-associated fishes, (3) Examined how macroalgae-associated species can influence catch diversity, trophic level and vulnerability and (4) Explored how tropical fisheries change with the expansion of macroalgal habitats using a case study of fishery-independent data for Seychelles. Fish that utilised macroalgal habitats comprise 24% of the catch, but very few fished species relied entirely on macroalgal or coral habitats post-settlement. Macroalgal and coral-associated fishes had similar life-history traits, although vulnerability to fishing declined with increasing contribution of macroalgae association to the catch, whilst mean trophic level and diversity peaked when macroalgal-associated fish accounted for 20%–30% of catches. The Seychelles case study revealed similar total fish biomass on macroalgal and coral reefs, although the biomass of primary target species increased as macroalgae cover expanded. Our findings reinforce that multiple habitat types are needed to support tropical fishery stability and sustainability. Whilst coral habitats have been the focus of tropical fisheries management, we show the potential for macroalgae-associated fish to support catch size and diversity in ways that reduce vulnerability to overfishing. This is pertinent to seascapes where repeated disturbances are facilitating the replacement of coral reef with macroalgal habitats.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/171409