Resource Library – Big Fish Initiative

Long-lived Reef Fishes: The Grouper-Snapper Complex (Scientific Paper)

Inheriting wisdom: transfer of traditional, scientific, and ecological knowledge in fishing communities in Mexico (Scientific Paper)

Evidence for protection of targeted reef fish on the largest marine reserve in the Caribbean (Scientific Paper)

Fishing Regulations Turks and Caicos Islands (Infographic)

Loss of suitable ocean habitat and phenological shifts among grouper and snapper spawning aggregations in the Greater Caribbean under climate change (Scientific Paper)

Diel movements and space use of Lutjanus analis at a spawning aggregation site, examined to evaluate the efficacy of a seasonal closed area for management (Scientific Paper)

Hábitats Esenciales para los Peces (Espanol)

Series educativas sobre los hábitats de los peces, como los Fondos Lodo y Arena, Estuarios, Columna de Agua, Arrecife de Coral y guía sobre consumo sostenible.

Session 1: Fish Spawning Aggregations and Fishers’ Knowledge

Summary: Welcome! This session provides an introduction and overview of the workshop focusing on examples of where fishers’ knowledge (FK) and leadership have led to fish spawning aggregation (FSA) conservation…

Session 2: Spawning Aggregation Ecology: Snappers and Associated Families

Summary: This session provides overviews of the six families and over 560 species in the SSG SG in terms of biology and spawning aggregations. These species can use habitats from…

Session 3: Applied Research – Designing Your Approach

Summary: In this session, we cover some of the practical “how to questions” for FSA research and provide guidance on designing research and conservation programs for FSAs. Fishers’ can play…

Session 4: Policy and Management Actions & The Role of Fisher Knowledge

Summary: In this session, we consider the why, what, and how of fishers’ knowledge (FK) and its application to fisheries policy and management using examples of best practices. We assess…

Coastal Oceans Research and Development in the Indian Ocean (Protocol)

Biophysical connectivity of snapper spawning aggregations and marine protected area management alternatives in Cuba (Scientific Paper)

Historical Processes and Contemporary Anthropogenic Activities Influence Genetic Population Dynamics of Nassau Grouper within The Bahamas (Scientific Paper)

Marine Conservation Outcomes are More Likely when Fishers Participate as Citzien Scientists: Case Studies from the Mexican Mesoamerican Reef (Scientific Paper)

Impact of historical warming on marine fisheries production (Scientific Papers)

Fish Spawning Aggregations: Where Well Placed Management Actions Can Yield Big Benefits for Fisheries and Conservation (Scientific Paper)

Timing and locations of reef fish spawning off the southeastern United States (Scientific Paper)

Let Them Come to You: Reinventing Management of the Snapper-Grouper Complex in the Western Atlantic: A Contribution to the Data Poor Fisheries Management Synopsium (Scientific Paper)

Informe de estado sobre las agregaciones reproductivas de peces en el Arrecife Mesoamericano (Scientific Paper)

A case for redefining the boundaries of the mesoamerican reef ecoregion (Scientific Paper)

Mesoamerican reef report card / reporte del arricife mesoamericano (Scientific Paper)

Policy Brief on Fish Spawning Aggregations (Scientific Paper)

Status Report on Fish Spawning Aggregation in the Mesoamerican Reef (Scientific Paper)

Biophysial Principles for Designing a Network of Replenishment Zones for the Mesoamerican Reef System (Scientific Paper)

A climate vulnerability assessment for Caribbean recreational fisheries (Scientific Paper)

Pescador Héroe: Magdiel Efren Naal Kumul

Fisher Hero: Magdiel Efren Naal Kumul

Big Fish Cientifica Destacada: Ana Giró Peterson

Big Fish Science: Ana Giró Peterson

Las Presas del Pargo Criollo

Mutton Snapper’s Prey

Relaciones de Arrecifes de Coral

Relationships within Coral Reefs

Ecosystem Overfishing

Spawning aggregations of checkered snapper and blackspot snapper; seasonality, lunar-phase periodicity and spatial distribution within spawning ground (Scientific Paper)

Spawning aggregation sites of snapper and grouper species and the insular shelf of Cuba (Scientific Paper)

Decadal analysis of larval connectivity from Cuban snapper spawning aggregations based on biophysical modeling (Scientific Paper)

IUCN Guidelines: Gathering of Fishers’ Knowledge for Policy Development and Applied Use (Protocol)

Prioritizing monitoring and conservation of efforts for fish spawning aggregations in the US Gulf of Mexico (Scientific Paper)

Timing and locations for reef fish spawning off the southeastern United States (Scientific Paper)

Data Collection and Finding in Spawning Special Management Zones (Presentation)

Belize: A Case Study (Video)

This video documents the incredible partnership between decision-makers, marine scientists, and local fishers in Belize as they unite to manage and protect spawning aggregation sites.

Protecting and Managing Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations in the Pacific (Article)

Restoring Big Fish: Cooperative Research, Conservation, and Management Program for Spawning Aggregations in the Wider Caribbean (Protocol)

Emerging Science and Technology to Improve Monitoring and Assessment of Fish Spawning Aggregations to Report from the 2019 Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Workshop (Protocol)

Report Fish Spawning Aggregations (Infographic)

Monitoreos Pesqueros (Protocol)

Manuel for the Study and Conservation of Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations (Protocol)

Management and Conservation of Reef Fish Important for Food (Protocol)

Reef Fish Spawning Aggregation Monitoring Protocol for the Meso-American Reef and the Wider Caribbean (Protocol)

Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Systems Project (MBRS) (Protocol)

Fish Spawning Aggregation Monitoring in the MARFish Network (Protocol)

Cooperative Research and Monitoring Protocols for Fish Spawning Aggregations in the Wider Gulf of Mexico (Protocol)

Protocolo de Agregaciones de Peces en México (Protocol)

Spawning Behavior (Video)

Dr. Will Heyman describes the unique spawning behaviors of snappers and groupers.

Spawning Aggregations (Video)

Dive into the spectacular phenomenon of spawning aggregations and learn why these productivity hotspot events are so important to the health of our oceans.

Two Minutes on Oceans w/ Jim Toomey: The True Value of Our Oceans (Video)

2-minute PSA about the uncounted economic benefits of the oceans. Oceans are not just about the seafood industry. The ocean provides transportation, tourism and recreation, as well as renewable energy,…

The dance of the groupers: Spawning aggregations, Quintana Roo (Video)

Introduction to the Nassau grouper spawning aggregations in the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve in Mexico.

Reserva Marina Isla de Mona y Monito (Video)

La Reserva Marina de las Islas de Mona y Monito es la más grande en Puerto Rico y protege las poblaciones de peces y otros organismos de los arrecifes de…

Nassau Grouper Spawning Aggregation Yucatan Mexico (Video)

Enjoy this short video montage of the 2016 spawning aggregation event in Punta Allen, Mexico.

Healthy Reefs for Healthy People (Video)

Smithsonian scientist Melanie McField leads Healthy Reefs for Healthy People (HR4HP), a multi-institutional effort to support conservation of the Mesoamerican Reef by tracking its health and making recommendations to policymakers…

Gigantes del pasado (Video)

In this video, we learn about the top predator fish species that live in Mexico's Pacific and Caribbean waters. Learn how you can contribute to the conservation of these important…

Essential Fish Habitat Series (Video)

Educational series on Fish Habitats such as the Deep Mesophotic Reef, Estuary and River Mouth, Mangroves, Responsible Consumption, Sandy and Muddy Seabed, Seagrass Meadows, Shallow Water Coral Reef, and Water…

Azul Sin Fronteras (Video)

Conservation work of the Giant Seabass in Mexico prompts marine scientists to expand their studies outside of their country's territorial waters and leads to new discoveries for the species.