Movement patterns of Natal seacatfish Galeichthys troworum (Ariidae) tagged in the Pondoland Marine Protected Area, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract

A tag-recapture study was undertaken on the Natal seacatfish Galeichthys troworum in the Pondoland Marine Protected Area (PMPA) on the east coast of South Africa. A total of 473 fish were tagged over a period of 8 years, and 136 individuals (28.8%) were recaptured over a period of 16 years, some of them on multiple occasions. Most recaptures (82%) were caught within 200 m of their release site, with movements ranging between 0 and 617 m, and time-at-liberty ranging between 0 and 3 407 days (9.3 years). Data analysis showed that all recaptured fish remained in relatively small home ranges (of ~360 m linear distance) and none of them abandoned their home range and moved out of the 2-km² sampling blocks. While the no-take area of the PMPA provided effective protection for these fish, their relative abundance was similar in an adjacent exploited area. This is likely because G. troworum is not a desired linefish species, with most individuals caught being released, coupled with high post-release survival.