Recreational and commercial overharvesting has led to a 90% reduction in th
e Strait of Georgia lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) population. Two small mari
ne protected areas (MPAs), accounting for less than 1% of the area, in Howe
Sound attract spawning lingcod. Densities of large spawning animals are hi
gher in both of the MPAs than on surrounding reefs that are open to fishing
and are significantly higher in the MPA with artificial habitat. An in-sit
u tagging study indicates animals leave the shallow study sites, at least s
easonally. Such small-scale movements must be taken into consideration when
the size and location of marine reserves are selected. Fishes with high ex
change rates, large home ranges, or seasonal migrations for spawning (such
as lingcod) require large marine reserves. We have developed a general spat
ial model for estimating effects of age-dependent seasonal migration and di
spersal on harvest mortality rates, including the effects of fishing effort
movement in response to local abundance changes. Simulations suggest the M
PAs are too small to provide year-round protection of lingcod from anglers.