Abstract

The movement of reef fish was investigated by tagging and visual recapture methods in two protected areas and two adjacent fishing areas in the recently established Soufriere Marine Management Area, St. Lucia. A total of 2,301 fish from 10 families were tagged, and visual recaptures were conducted weekly by SCUBA surveys for nine weeks following tagging. The maximum visual recapture proportion was 44%. and decreased with time following tagging. The mean dispersal distance from the release point over the nine week survey period differed significantly between families, being highest for Carangids (~260 m) and Labrids (~110 m), and lowest for Holocentrids (~15 m) and Serranids (~10 m). For most families, mean dispersal distance was <50 m, and did not differ significantly with time following tagging or between study sites. There was no significant effect of protection from fishing (i.e., Maine Reserve) on the movement of fish. Moreover, most individuals in all families showed strong homing behavior and site attachment, quickly returning to their capture point when released some 100 m to 800 m away. These results demonstrate that the potential export of fish biomass from protected areas to adjacent fishing areas through emigration of catchable fish is negligible under tbe conditions in the management area during the first year following zoning. Current theory predicts that the extent of movement and probability of fish re-locating their home sites will increase markedly at the higher fish densities that characterize mature protected areas. Under these conditions export of catchable fish to adjacent fished areas will increase. This remains to be demonstrated as the Soufriere Marine Management Area matures.

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