Bonefish

Bonefish Albula vulpes are an economically important sport fish that has historically bolstered the recreational flats fisheries of the Florida Keys and The Bahamas; an industry with an annual economic impact of US$465 million and US$169 million, respectively. Analyses of fishing guide logbooks and guide interviews indicate that the population of bonefish in south Florida has declined. Due to the economic and cultural importance of these fisheries, protection of spawning and nursery habitats is integral to population recovery and stability. However, knowledge gaps persist in how abiotic and biotic habitat factors influence reproduction and recruitment. Without clear delineation of spawning and recruitment habitats, bonefish populations remain vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances. Bonefish partake in a unique three-point spawning migration, migrating from shallow-water home flats to form nearshore pre-spawning aggregations (PSA) before moving offshore to spawn. Using active acoustic telemetry, sonar imagery, and CTD profiles, the first complete account of offshore spawning movements and novel deep diving behavior was accomplished. Bonefish reached depths of 137.9 m and spawned at 67.3 m, a depth associated with the pycnocline/thermocline. Previous efforts show spatiotemporal plasticity in spawning, a behavior counter to other aggregation forming fishes.

Relying on field research to complete the life history for certain fish
species can be inadequate, but laboratory research can be used to fill these
gaps. These gaps exist for Bonefish (Albula spp.), a tropical marine fish and
popular sportfish. In this study, aquaculture techniques were applied to Bonefish
in a captive setting at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) and Cape
Eleuthera Institute (CEI) to induce spawning and describe early ontogeny.
Photothermal manipulations and hormone injections were used to induce gonad
maturation and spawning, which was achieved once at CEI and is the first record
of hormone-induced spawning for Bonefish. From that spawn, egg and larval
development were recorded and described through 26 hours and 56 hours
respectively, representing the first record of these early life stages for Bonefish. This work expands upon what is known about Bonefish reproductive biology and
will be useful for management and future captive research.

Bonefish (Albula spp.) support an economically important sport fishery, yet little
is known regarding the reproductive biology of this genus. Analysis of oocytes histology
and sex hormone levels was conducted on wild female bonefish sampled during and
outside the spawning season in Grand Bahama, Central Andros, and South Andros, The
Bahamas to assess reproductive state. Bonefish are commonly found along shallow water
flats, or in pre-spawn aggregations (PSA) during spawning months. 17β-estradiol levels
suggest vitellogenic consistency between habitats. However, fish are more reproductively
developed at PSA based on the occurrence of larger, more prevalent vitellogenic oocytes
and evidence of final maturation. Variability in hormone levels and spawning readiness
existed between Grand Bahama and Andros PSAs, suggesting peak spawning may differ by region. Findings from this study will contribute baseline data to the captive bonefish
restoration project at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and to the limited ecological
data regarding bonefish reproduction.