SETTLEMENT AND MIGRATION OF EARLY-STAGE SPANGLED EMPEROR, LETHRINUS-NEBULOSUS (PISCES, LETHRINIDAE), IN THE COASTAL WATERS OFF OKINAWA-ISLAND, JAPAN

Settlement and migration of the early life stage spangled emperor were studied in the Hanechi region off the northern part of Okinawa island from 1984 to 1991, by means of underwater observations with SCUBA, sa mplings of juveniles gathered by lamp and with seine, and also release and recapture experiments of hatchery-reared juveniles. Juveniles jus t after settlement, about 17 mm in fork length (FL), were first observ ed in seagrass beds shallower than 3 m depth in May and increased in n umber through July. After August they gradually moved out of the seagr ass beds and disappeared after November. Samplings with fish-lamp and seine revealed that a peak of juvenile settlement took place in June, although a few individuals just before settlement were caught as late as in October. The reared juveniles, which were tagged and released in November when they were 5 similar to 6 months old and 104 mm in mean FL, stayed within 3 km of the release point until June of next year, a nd expanded their distribution range to the outer edges of the coral r eef facing the open sea, which was 7 km distant from the release point , in October.