The importance of oligohaline estuarine wetland habitats to fisheries resources

Abstract

Oligohaline estuarine wetlands are found at the upper reaches of most estuaries. These wetlands are composed of several habitat types including tidal marshes, tidal creeks, and open-water areas. Twenty-five species of fish representing 11 families and three species of invertebrates were identified as economically important and abundant in oligohaline habitats along the northern Gulf and southeastern Atlantic coasts. These include anadromous and catadromous species which use low salinity habitats as migratory corridors and freshwater, estuarine and marine organisms which use these habitats as nursery and feeding areas. The few comparative data available suggest that some oligohaline wetland habitats may be of equal importance to higher salinity marshes for at least two important estuarine species (spot and Atlantic menhaden). Until detailed studies are available for specific estuaries, oligohaline habitats should be considered as valuable as salt marsh habitats. The value of these habitats as nursery areas should be considered by managers and regulatory agencies when reviewing proposals to modify them.