ABSTRACT
Worldwide, bonefi shes (Albula spp.) are ecologically and economically important constituents of tropical, shallow-water systems. Bonefi shes support economically important recreational fi sheries in numerous locations in the Caribbean (e.g., Bahamas, Belize, Mexico, and Venezuela among the most notable). In southern Florida and the Florida Keys, often credited as the birth place of “fl ats fi shing,” bonefi shes are an important component of the recreational fi shery (Crabtree et al., 1996). Because of their ecological and economic importance, sustainable bonefi sh fi sheries are of particular importance and knowledge of their ecological requirements is essential to successful management.
