Movements of juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), in north-eastern Queensland

Abstract

Movements of juvenile barramundi resident in tidal creeks of two north-eastern Queensland coastal bays were determined using tag and recapture techniques. In a 3-year period from 1978, 1268 mainly young- of-the-year barramundi were tagged and 213 (17%) recaptured. Most fish were recaptured at the original tagging location, with only 32 (2.5% of all fish tagged) caught away from the tidal creeks where they were released. Marked fish continued to be recaptured within the tidal creeks until they were about 1 year old. Barramundi of this age moved out into the main estuary and dispersed into adjacent streams and coastal habitats. After leaving the tidal creeks, barramundi tagged in Trinity Bay moved an average distance of 7.6 km, whereas those tagged in Rockingham Bay moved an average of 23 km. Factors which may limit the movements of these juvenile fish are discussed.