Population dynamics of roundjaw bonefish Albula glossodonta at a remote coralline Atoll inform community‐based management in an artisanal fishery

Fisheries management requires knowledge on the population dynamics of exploited stocks. To that end, the present study used a mark–recapture approach to characterise the population demographics of roundjaw bonefish Albula glossodonta (Forsskal) and their interaction with a data-limited fishery on Anaa Atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago of French Polynesia. Over the course of the study, 2,509 bonefish were tagged and 12.3% were recaptured. The L ∞ of bonefish was estimated at 71 cm fork length (FL) with a K of 0.17, based on changes in FL between capture events. Artisanal fish traps located in the migratory corridors of the atoll accounted for 94% of recaptures and these movements occurred during the waning moon. Fishing mortality increased as bonefish reach sexual maturity, recruiting to the trap fishery at age 4 with the onset of spawning behaviour. Bonefish abundance between ages 3 and 5 was estimated to be 29,079 individuals. This case study demonstrated the utility of mark–recapture in filling knowledge gaps that impede the management of data-limited fisheries. Ultimately, these results supported the creation of an Educational Managed Marine Area and the resurgence of rahui (seasonal closure) to manage this fishery.