Home range and movement patterns of Pacific halibut in Glacier Bay, Alaska: site fidelity within and between years

Hooge, Philip; Taggart, S; Hooge, Elizabeth

The movements and distribution of Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) in Glacier Bay National Park were determined over multiple years using long-life acoustic transmitters (approximately 18 months, n=25 and 36 months, n=85). In addition, 1598 halibut were marked with wire tags. Many halibut, especially larger individuals, exhibited site fidelity and a home range. Home range sizes were often small, in nearly all cases less than 0.9km2 for the 95% kernel utilization distribution. In addition, home ranges rarely overlapped despite proximity, suggesting territoriality. Smaller halibut and some larger individuals did not exhibit continuous site fidelity, instead moving in a directed manner over larger areas and then either returning to their original home ranges or relocating to a new home range in another area. Many halibut returned to Glacier Bay for two or more years, often returning to the same area as previously used. The limited movements of Glacier Bay halibut indicate good potential for marine reserves to be an effective tool in the management of this species and that these restricted movements should be taken into account in harvest models.