Tim Clark

Where Do The Fish Go? Incorporating Home Range Size In Marine Protected Area Design

2017

Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources of American Samoa

Tech Report

"This project is to investigate the movement patterns and home range of reef fish species that are caught for local consumption (approximately 12 species) in American Samoa. Of the twelve proposed target species, only Variola louti and Lutjanus bohar were captured and tagged in 2015 (Table 1). One GS-7 biotech was hired and seven Samoan students were involved in the project this year. Scholarships were obtained for students through the Short-Term Research Experience for Underrepresented Persons (STEPUP), and the Highly Engaged Learning Placement (HELP) programs. Receivers were downloaded this year, with data from five of six fish tagged in 2015. Data from the three V. louti tagged show extensive movements up and down the coast, with short tag life. This is highly suggestive of consumption by a predator, most likely a shark. Data from L. bohar tag# 24571 suggested limited movement from its home receiver and a strong diel cycle in habitat use over 210 days of tag returns. Lutjanus bohar tag# 24566 had 146 days of tag returns, and also showed high site fidelity except for occasional movements up to 11 km along the coast lasting 3-5 days. These movements appear to follow a lunar cycle, suggesting migration to a spawning aggregation site."

FY13; CRCP Project ID: 198; Project Title: Domestic Coral Reef Conservation Grant Programs; Principal Investigator: Kristine Bucchianeri