Research Articles
Movement patterns of grey grunter Pomadasys furcatus (Pisces: Haemulidae) in the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area, South Africa
DOI:
10.1080/15627020.2025.2494581
Author(s):
Bruce Q MannOceanographic Research Institute, South African Association for Marine Biological Research, South Africa, Stuart DunlopOceanographic Research Institute, South African Association for Marine Biological Research, South Africa, Robert KyleSouth African Association for Marine Biological Research, South Africa, Gareth L JordaanOceanographic Research Institute, South African Association for Marine Biological Research, South Africa, Ryan DalyOceanographic Research Institute, South African Association for Marine Biological Research, South Africa,
Abstract
Pomadasys furcatus is a relatively common inshore fish species caught in the shore-based linefishery in northern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, yet relatively little is known about the biology and ecology of this species. Movement patterns of this species were studied based on data obtained from a 20-year tag-recapture study conducted in the iSimangaliso Marine Protected Area in northern KZN from 2001 to 2021. A total of 4 983 fish were caught, of which 1 302 were tagged and released and 74 were recaptured. Results showed that P. furcatus is a highly resident species with a linear coastal home-range size of 250–540 m. None of the fish recaptured moved out of the protected area no-take zones in which they were tagged, suggesting limited adult spillover. Based on their residency, options for the future conservation and management of this species are discussed.
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