Patterns and drivers of movement in the estuary-associated sparid Acanthopagrus australis from a large-scale tagging study

Knowledge of fish movement is essential for implementing appropriate spatial scales of stock assessment and management. This study examines the movement patterns of an important fisheries species Acanthopagrus australis, yellowfin bream, along Australia’s east coast using data from a cooperative tag-recapture program. More than 24, 000 individuals were tagged and released across ∼ 800 km of coastline, with recreational anglers recapturing 2, 036 (8.2 %) individuals during a 19-year period. While a broad range of movements was observed (0–832 km), only 8.6 % of fish moved further than 100 km and a substantial proportion (37 %) of individuals were recaptured at their release location. Generalized additive models indicated that fish were more likely to move if they spent greater time at liberty, were of larger body length at release, and were released during Autumn. Movement distance was greater if fish moved in a northerly direction, spent greater time at liberty and were released at more southerly latitudes. The results indicate that movement of yellowfin bream is restricted over a relatively small spatial scale (< 100 km), with occasional larger movements consistent with multiple behavioural types. The findings suggest that monitoring, assessment and management at a finer spatial scale than the current state-wide approach may be warranted to ensure sustainable fisheries management.