Wind Effects on the Transport of Red Sea Bream Larvae from a Coastal Spawning Ground Adjacent to Shijiki Bay

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the effects of wind variations on the surface drift of red sea bream larvae azound Shijiki bay, a well-known nursery area of the red sea bream off the northwestern coast of Kyushu, on the basis of the results of the drift-card experiment carried out in a spawning ground adjacent to the bay during March-July in 1982. It is suggested that a large amount of larvae would be transported from this local spawning ground to Shijiki Bay, especially under windless conditions. However, prevailing southerly winds during the spawning period will enable the larvae originating from more southern major spawning grounds to reach Shijiki Bay within several days after spawning, which may contribute to the rapid increase of the larval abundance in the bay. Conversely, under prevailing northerly winds, the transport of eggs and larvae from both local and major spawning grounds cannot be expected.