Advancing the science and management of flats fisheries for bonefish, tarpon, and permit

The fish of the sub-tropical and tropical flats including bonefish (Albula spp.), Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus), and permit (Trachinotus falcatus), capture the imagination of specialized coastal marine recreational anglers. Until recently, little was known about the biology and natural history of these iconic species. Flats ecosystems are under threat from coastal development and environmental change while basic information on demographics and population size is lacking. This makes it difficult to understand the consequences of these threats, or to formulate potential management strategies. Through extensive partnerships involving anglers, industry, conservation organizations, natural resource agencies, and academics, the mysteries surrounding these species are starting to be solved. Nonetheless, many challenges remain. The systematics of these fish is complex, particularly for the bonefish which include a number of cryptic species. Identifying the timing and habitats associated with reproduction remain high priority such that management efforts can target protecting that important life-history event. Information on the spatial ecology of flats fish at various spatial scales is being elucidated by electronic tagging studies and angler tagging programs. Habitat science for these fish continues to improve but there is still need to identify effective habitat restoration strategies. Catch-and-release science has improved dramatically (especially for A. vulpes in The Bahamas) although there is need to for additional work across regions and species. Targeted species-specific management strategies (e.g., catch-and-release regulations) as well as more ecosystem-level strategies (e.g., habitat protection and fishing effort management) are increasingly being used for active management of flats fish and their habitats. Partnerships will remain key to addressing outstanding research questions and in working cooperatively to ensure that evidence (both scientific and stakeholder knowledge) forms the basis for management decisions.