Oral Presentation Australian Society for Fish Biology Conference 2025

Multi-method tagging reveals cross-jurisdictional and seasonal movements of yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) (124897)

Daniel Ierodiaconou 1 , Belinda Goddard 1 2 3 , Fabrice Jaine 2 3 , Hayden Schilling 4 , Julian Hughes 5 , Thomas Clarke 6 , Darren Wong 7 , Justin Rizzari 7 8 , Corey Green 9 , Charlie Huveneers 6 , Sean Tracey 10 , Ty Matthews 7
  1. Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia
  2. Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Offshore Biotechnologies, Mosman, NSW, Australia
  3. School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
  4. NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Port Stephens Fisheries Institute, Taylors Beach, NSW, Australia
  5. NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Mosman, NSW, Australia
  6. Southern Shark Ecology Group, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
  7. Deakin Marine Research and Innovation Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Queenscliff, VIC, Australia
  8. Global Fishing Watch, Washington, DC, USA
  9. Victorian Fisheries Authority, Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia
  10. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart , Tasmania, Australia

Yellowtail kingfish (Seriola lalandi) are one of Australia’s most valued recreational and commercial species, with a single genetic stock encompassing south-eastern Australia and New Zealand. Recent warming of ocean waters has driven a southward shift in kingfish distribution, presenting emerging opportunities for Victorian fisheries and stock recovery. Here, we used conventional (n = 63,432), acoustic (= 108) and satellite (= 49) tagging to investigate kingfish movements with a particular emphasis on their behaviour in Victorian waters and interstate connectivity observed. We describe how different tagging methods can reveal specific aspects of fish movements and behaviours. Long-term cooperative tagging programs revealed extensive cross-jurisdictional and trans-Tasman movements, indicating that a collaborative management approach may be appropriate. Acoustic telemetry, encompassing detections from a continental-scale acoustic array, indicated seasonal migrations of kingfish between New South Wales and Victoria, supporting the suggestions of poleward movements of kingfish with warming waters. Satellite telemetry revealed fine-scale vertical, horizontal and thermal distributions of adult kingfish, providing important insights into habitat use of spawning individuals. The identified movements, habitat use and cross-jurisdictional connectivity of kingfish emphasises the need for revised assessment and collaborative management approaches to kingfish across south-eastern Australia.