Marine Stock Enhancement in Florida: A Multi-Disciplinary, Stakeholder-Supported, Accountability-Based Approach

Saltwater fishery management in Florida, USA, is mandated to include user-supported hatchery-based stock enhancement. Scientists at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Mote Marine Laboratory have taken a multi-disciplinary, quantitative approach to develop effective strategies for integrating stocking into traditional fishery management, with an initial focus on red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). With consensus from stakeholders, particularly from a well-informed advisory board, focus has shifted over the past 8 years from production-oriented stocking to an assessment-driven developmental approach. The goal is to develop and expand economically successful and ecologically sound stocking technology for rapidly replenishing depleted fish stocks in a multi-billion dollar (US) saltwater recreational fishing industry. Release-recapture experiments for red drum have been underway in Tampa Bay for 6 years. This research has involved replicate stratified releases of ∼ 4 million red drum hatchli...