Movements and dispersal patterns of blue trevally (Caranx melampygus) in a fisheries conservation zone

The short- and long-term movement patterns of blue trevally (Caranx melampygus) were monitored using a combination of sonic tracking and tag-and-release techniques, All fish were captured and released on the patch reef surrounding Coconut Island in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, which has been a no-fishing conservation zone for over 30 years, Sonic tracking produced fine-scale movement data from five fish for periods spanning up to 18 days, All fish displayed diel movement patterns within consistent home ranges, which encompassed different parts of the reef during the night than during the day. Movements were predominantly along the walls of the patch reef, with occasional forays to nearby sections of adjacent reefs. Four hundred and ten fish were tagged and released on the Coconut Island reef, and the recapture sites of 85 recaptured fish indicated that most did not move far from their point of release; 75.5% were recaptured within 0.5 km of their release points. Time at liberty ranged from 4 to 454 days, and distance between release and recapture sites was not related to time at liberty. Some fish were observed many times in the same areas over periods of several months, Both the tracking and recapture data indicate strong site fidelity in this species and low occurrence of long distance emigration. These behavioral traits suggest that successful husbandry of this species may be accomplished through the use of management practices such as establishing no-fishing zones.