Spawning aggregations of <i>Lutjanus cyanopterus</i>(Cuvier) on the Belize Barrier Reef over a 6 year period

Abstract

Cubera snapper Lutjanus cyanopterus aggregated to spawn at Gladden Spit, a salient sub‐surface reef promontory seaward of the emergent reef and near the continental shelf edge of Belize. Their spawning aggregations typically formed 2 days before to 12 days after full moon from March to September 1998–2003 within a 45 000 m 2 reef area. Peak abundance of 4000 to 10 000 individuals was observed between April and July each year, while actual spawning was most frequently observed in May. Spawning was observed consistently from 40 min before to 10 min after sunset within a confined area ≤1000 m 2 . Data suggested that cubera snapper consistently formed seasonal spawning aggregations in relation to location, photoperiod, water temperature and lunar cycle, and that spawning was cued by time of day but not tides. The cubera snapper aggregation site was included within the Gladden Spit Marine Reserve, a conditional no‐take fishing zone.