Post-release mortality of bonefish, Albula vulpes, exposed to different handling practices during catch-and-release angling in Eleuthera, The Bahamas

Abstract  Bonefish, Albula spp., are popular sportfish that inhabit shallow nearshore environments in tropical and subtropical seas. Although catch and release is a common voluntary practice for anglers seeking bonefish, the post-release fate of bonefish is poorly understood. Gastrically implanted acoustic transmitters were used to assess the short-term (<48 h) and long-term (>48 h) post-release mortality of bonefish, Albula vulpes (Linnaeus), in Eleuthera, The Bahamas, subjected to gentle handling (quick retrieval, 0–15 s of air exposure and brief handling time) or rough handling (longer retrieval, 30–60 s of air exposure and extended handling time). Of the 12 fish captured and released, one was preyed upon by two lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris (Poey), within the first hour post-release, and this fish was handled roughly. The transmitter from another bonefish was found on the substratum 2 days post-release near the site at which the fish was originally caught. Of the remaining 10 fish, all were tracked and alive for at least 13 days and up to 24 days, suggesting that the negative impacts of catch-and-release angling that lead to mortality for bonefish likely occur within minutes post-release.     

The conservation implications of spatial and temporal variability in the diurnal use of Bahamian tidal mangrove creeks by transient predatory fishes

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Bonefish (Albula vulpes) home range to spawning site linkages support a marine protected area designation

1. A spatial approach to coastal management, such as marine protected areas, is being increasingly used to address biodiversity and fishery declines resulting from habitat loss, degradation, and overfishing. This approach is especially applicable in regions and fisheries that are data poor, and which often lack regulations and adequate capacity for enforcement. In data-poor situations, species that have economic, cultural, and charismatic value can provide leverage for ecosystem protection.
2. In this study, acoustic telemetry was used to confirm a pre-spawning aggregation site, acting as critical information for protection of essential habitat for bonefish. Additionally, data sharing with an acoustic telemetry study on smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) documented linkages between the pre-spawning aggregation site and bonefish home ranges ≥70 km distant, thus providing an estimate of the catchment area.
3. These data provided post hoc support for a marine national park designated in 2002, and demonstrate that the park is of the appropriate spatial scale.