Movements of small adult black rockfish: implications for the design of MPAs.

The article presents a study on how the design of marine protected areas (MPAs) is affected by the movement of small adult black rockfish known as Sebastes melanops. The movements of the rockfish were analyzed by implanting them with acoustic transmitters in Carmel Bay, California. The tagged fish were monitored from August 2006 to January 2008 and their vertical movements were correlated with various environmental variables. Based from the result of the study, the researchers concluded that the understanding of the differences in fish movements among age classes is needed in designing MPAs that are intended for the protection of all life stages of a species.