Parrotfishes are caught primarily by fish traps and spearfishing (targeted and incidental) for personal and commercial consumption. Over half (65 percent) of the responding countries and overseas territories indicated that they have either a complete harvesting ban or fishing regulations in place to promote the protection of parrotfishes to some extent. About half (56 percent) of the responding countries have fishery-independent surveys for parrotfishes, but the metrics evaluated by these surveys are not the same. Similarly, parrotfish-related outreach and education was varied throughout the Caribbean. Twelve countries (32 percent) report having specific parrotfish outreach campaigns or materials, while in other countries campaigns and materials were geared towards marine conservation in general. Most countries agree that long-term protection for parrotfishes is critical, but consensus about the specific measures required to achieve this is lacking.

Fish Spawning Aggregations (FSAs) are very important as they are the sole reproductive event, and face a global challenge for being reduced in both number and size, threatening the continued existence of the species, along with the livelihood of fishing communities with a multiplier effect on the economics, social cohesion and survival of benthic areas. Efforts have been made to reduce and reverse their decline but are insufficient. It is against this backdrop that the Regional Fish Spawning Aggregation Draft Fishery Management Plan (FSAMP) was developed at the request of the Working Group. The goals of the 4th meeting of the SAWG are to address any comments received from members and partners on the draft FSAMP, as well as to provide updates on the communications strategy and advance implementation of Recommendation WECAFC/XVII/2019/24 adopted at the 17th Session of WECAFC (WECAFC 17). Las agregaciones de desove (AD) constituyen el principal evento reproductivo, y se enfrentan a un reto global por su reducción en número y tamaño. Una situación que amenaza la continuidad de las especies y los medios de vida de las comunidades pesqueras, con un efecto multiplicador en la economía, la cohesión social y la supervivencia de las zonas bentónicas. Se han realizado esfuerzos para reducir y revertir su declive, pero son insuficientes. En este contexto y, a petición del GTAD, se elaboró el proyecto del Plan regional de ordenación pesquera de las especies que forman agregaciones de desove (PROPEFAD). Los objetivos de la cuarta reunión del GTAD son estudiar los comentarios formulados por miembros y socios sobre el proyecto del PROPEFAD, proporcionar información actualizada sobre la estrategia de comunicación, y avanzar en la implementación de la Recomendación COPACO/17/2019/24, adoptada en la decimoséptima reunión de la COPACO (COPACO 17).

Parrotfish are found on almost every coral reef in the world. This ubiquity and uniqueness of their feeding action make them one of the most important groups of fishes within coral reef ecosystems. But why, exactly, are parrotfish so important to reefs? Can the evolution of a particular jaw morphology and feeding action really have had such a large impact on the health and functioning of the world's coral reefs? This book introduces the reader to this fascinating group of fishes (Labridae, Scarinae), from the morphological innovation of a jaw that has the power to bite through solid calcium carbonate, to the threats currently faced by parrotfish populations around the world. It contains new insights into their diet and food processing ability, and lifehistories, and concludes with an overview of emerging and future research directions.

This document provides a review, commentary and tabulations of the main trends that have occurred in exploitation of fisheries resources since the 1970s, largely as they are reflected in the FAO database on fishery landings, supplemented with selected information from the fishery literature. Reviews were prepared separately for the 15 main areas into which FAO divides the world's oceans for statistical purposes. They are then compared from a global perspective to reveal relative trends by species and areas, which are highlighted. Several special topics are reviewed, including tuna and tuna-like species, whales and dolphins, and environmental issues in fisheries.

This comprehensive volume gathers foremost experts on the coral reefs of Cuba who represent a spectrum of disciplines, including biology, conservation ecology, economics and geology. The volume is organized along general themes including the Cuban Reef biota, reefs occurring in the Mesophotic and Eutrophic zones, ecology, conservation, management and the economic importance of the coral reefs of Cuba. The combination of case studies, new and previously published research, historical overview and examples of the ways in which research has contributed to the management and conservation of Cuban coastal resources provides a unique reference for graduate students and professionals holding a wide range of interests and expertise related to coral reef systems.