Studying Spawning Aggregations

A good understanding of the biology and effects of fishing on reef fish spawning aggregations, gained through sound scientific study, is key to their successful management and conservation. A wide variety of methods has been used to study such spawning aggregations since they were first described by early diving scientists in the 1960s and 70s.

Globally, relatively little work has been conducted on spawning aggregations and few sites have been the specific focus of monitoring and management activities.

Important aspects of our work are to develop suitable methodologies to study and monitor aggregations (e.g. Methods Manual and Handbook), options for their management (see Management and Conservation), and means of discovering and raising awareness about them (see Fishery Surveys Introduction).

The Methods Manual is intended to serve as a resource to aid in selecting scientifically sound methods for investigating reef fish aggregations, and will be particularly valuable to new workers in this field.