Caribbean Coral Reef Fishery Resources

Many coastal communities in Latin America and the Caribbean depend on the resources provided by reefs for their livelihoods. The Reefs at Risk in the Caribbean project is a response to an information need. The primary goal is to raise awareness and improve management by improving the knowledge base on the status of and threats to coral reefs.

This guide includes all fishes that are likely to be observed by people visiting or diving on the coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific - including the Red Sea - and Western Atlantic oceans to a depth of 60m. 2074 species are listed, with each major form included, whether male, female, immature or a geographical variety. Identification characteristics are highlighted, with the text covering where the species is likely to be found on a reef and where it is found in the world, with an introduction to the habitat and how to identify fish in the wild.

Reef ecosystems extend throughout the tropics. Exploited by small-scale fishers, reefs supply food for millions of people, but, worldwide, there are growing worries about the productivity and current state of these ecosystems. Reef fish stocks display many features of fisheries elsewhere. However, habitat spatial complexity, biological diversity within and among species, ecosystem intricacy and variable means of exploitation make it hard to predict sustainable modes and levels of fishing.