Kim Holland – Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii
Brad Wetherbee – Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island
Chris Lowe – California State University at Long Beach
Carl Meyer – Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii

The Coconut Island Marine Reserve in Kaneohe Bay ,Oahu , Hawaii has existed for the last 35 years.  A number of types of fish that are highly prized by recreational and commercial fishers occur within the reserve and are presumed to be protected from fishers to various extents despite the relatively small size of the refuge and the high mobility of several of these species.  We used conventional tagging and acoustic telemetry methods to conduct intensive studies on the movement and residence patterns of four economically valuable species of fish that are abundant within the Coconut Island Marine Reserve; two species of trevally – the giant trevally or ulua (Caranxignobilis), the blue trevally or omilu (Caranxmelampygus), and two species of goatfish – the white goatfish or weke (Mulloides flavolineatus), and thewhitesaddle goatfish or kumu (Parupeneus porphyreus) to examine the effectiveness of the Coconut Island Marine Reserve in providing protection from fishing for each species. Each species differs in their patterns of use of the Coconut Island Marine Reserve.  All omilu that were tracked remained almost exclusively within the marine reserve.  This included omilu approaching the maximum size attained by this species.  Thus, omilu over the entire size range for this species essentially remain within theCoconut Island reserve.  Ulua on the other hand moved outside of the marine reserve more frequently and regularly traveled fairly long distances from Coconut Islandto reach nearby reefs.  In addition, no mature ulua were ever captured or observed at Coconut Island and thus the marine reserve not only offers a lower degree of protection for ulua than for omilu, but offers protection only for pre-reproductive size ulua.  The two species of goat fishes showed similar movement patterns and essentially remained within the Coconut Island Marine Reserve throughout active tracks.  During the day goatfish remained among large schools, but at night individual goatfish moved onto shallow reef flats where they spent the night foraging.  Each morning the goatfish returned to their daytime refuge school and spent the entire day within this small area.  Although these two species showed similar movement patterns both of which indicate a high degree of protection within the marine reserve, population demographics differ between the two species and affect the level of protection offered by the Coconut Island Marine Reserve.  Weke occur in schools of several hundred mature fish, whereas only immature kumu were found at Coconut Island .  Therefore, although the Coconut Island Marine Reserve is very effective in protecting goatfish that occur within its boundaries, only pre-reproductive kumu occupy this habitat in comparison to protection of hundreds of weke that are reproducing and contributing to the population growth of this species.  Our studies demonstrate that even a small marine reserve such as Coconut Island can provide an effective refuge from fishing pressure for reef fishes.  However, the degree of protection varies with species and is dependent upon the movement patterns and life history characteristics of individual species.  In evaluating the effectiveness of marine reserves or in design of reserves, it is critical that the behavior, habitat requirements and life history characteristics of target species are considered on an individual basis.

For pdf versions of publications resulting from this study click on the manuscript below. 

Wetherbee, B.M., K.H. Holland, C.G. Meyer and C.G. Lowe. 2004. Use of a marine reserve in Kaneohe Bay ,Hawaii by the giant trevally, Caranx ignobilis. Fish. Res.67:253-263.

Meyer, C.G., K.N. Holland, B.M. Wetherbee and C.G. Lowe. 2001. Diet, resource partitioning and capture vulnerability of Hawaiian jacks captured in fishing tournaments. Fish. Res. 53:105-113.

Meyer, C.G., K.N. Holland, B.M. Wetherbee and C.G. Lowe. 2000. Movement patterns, habitat utilization, home range size and site fidelity of whitesaddle goatfish (Parupeneus porphyreus), in a marine reserve. Env. Biol. Fish. 59:235-242.

Holland, K.N., C.G. Lowe and B.M. Wetherbee. 1996. Movements and dispersal patterns of blue trevally (Caranx melampygus) in a fisheries conservation zone. Fish. Res.25:279-292.

Holland, K.N., J.D. Peterson Jr., C.G. Lowe and B.M. Wetherbee. 1993. Movements and growth rates of the white goatfish Mulloides flavolineatus in a fisheries conservation zone. Bull. Mar. Sci. 52:982-992