Abstract

Movements and behaviour of red seabream Pagrus major (J1) and black rockfish Sebastes schlegeli (T1 and T2) inside or environs to artificial reefs determined by acoustic telemetry information were monitored. Both fish are associated with artificial reefs in two marine ranching areas (Jeju and Tongyeong) in South Korea but the knowledge of habitat use and fish movement around them is unclear. J1 was monitored in Jeju marine ranching area (October 24, 2012) and exhibited more activity at dusk hours, its stay in place around some artificial reefs was observed as well. In other hand, some tracking records of two wild adults T1 and T2 were tagged with acoustic transmitter tags and digital micro data logger, released then passive and manual tracking for hours in addition to compare both artificial reefs and natural habitats in Tongyeong marine ranching center during different periods (May 11 and June 6, 2013, respectively). T1 showed an association with artificial reefs while T2 released in one area without artificial reefs, it had wide displacements (>1 km in the last detected point), suggesting that the rockfish probably searched for the homeward direction.