Short-term movement and dispersal patterns of barramundi in a seasonally closed freshwater habitat in the Northern Territory

Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) were captured by rod and reel angling using lures at Mission Billabong, a freshwater body within the Daly River catchment, southwest of Darwin, Northern Territory. The total length of each captured fish was measured and individuals were fitted with an external dart tag for identification purposes and also a radio transmitter tuned to a unique frequency. Individuals were released into the billabong and re-located once per day, when possible, with a 2MHz receiver. The movements of 29 fish were monitored in the wet (warm) season from 4 to 24 November 2002 and a further 31 fish were monitored in the dry (cool) season from 22nd July to 9 August 2003. When an individual was located, the transmitter number and GPS position was recorded. The distance between consecutive re-locations of individuals was calculated to define the extent of movements of individuals. Short term movements patterns of barramundi (Lates calcarifer) were monitored in a seasonally closed freshwater system to determine whether movement and dispersal differed by individual or season.