Flying Fish: Reasons for Migration

Flying fish are characterized by their large "flying fins." These aquatic creatures possess the ability to jump from the water and soar through the air. You can find flying fish leaping from warm ocean waters around the world. After they gain speed underwater, these fish angle upward by beating their tail, which allows them to fly as much as four feet above water and travel more than 650 feet at a time. Flying fish, like other fish, migrate for a variety reasons, which include to spawn, avoid pollution, take refuge from predators and find new food sources.

  1. Overview

    • Flying fish have a native ability to glide so they can try to escape their predators, such as tuna, swordfish and marlin. About 40 species of flying fish are known. All have finds and forked tails. Some species with enlarged pelvic fins are called " four-winged flying fish." Flying fish are plentiful in the tropical waters of the Caribbean, where they are an important source for food. Studies have been conducted in this region concerning their habits, though there is little conclusive evidence about predictable migratory patterns.

    Spawning in Barbados

    • Barbados is known as the "land of flying fish." The four-winged flying fish (Hirundicthys affinis) is typically caught by Barbadians from November to July, with more than 90 percent hooked between December and June. There are few mature fish after June, which is attributed to the flying fish's migration from the open ocean in the summer. The fish migrate closer to shore then to spawn on floating material. This is because the eggs of flying fish are not buoyant as they are in most species that live in open water.

    Development

    • The distance flying fish migrate has been shown to be affected by development and consequent pollution. After the construction of the deep water harbor in Bridgetown, Barbados, in 2002, activity and related pollution from cruise lines affected the health of the coral reefs. This caused the flying fish to migrate from the capital to less populated locales outside the capital.

    Escape From Predators

    • Flying fish are prey for larger fish and birds. Dolphins begin migrating in the fall up the east coast of Florida, where flying fish are a favorite food. Frigate birds and pelicans soar near the flying fish. They often swoop in to snatch them after the dolphins have scared them out of the water. Smaller flying fish are no match for this maneuver, so they have been known to migrate to less crowded Floridian waters in search of safety.