An Integrated Multidisciplinary Program to Develop Aquaculture for Stock Enhancement of the Red Snapper

Implementation of a responsible approach to stock enhancement requires integrated multidisciplinary projects to acquire hatchery methods for target species and design release and monitoring plans to assess the results and impacts of stocking operations. The Gulf red snapper Lutjanus campechanus is a marine reef fish of major economic importance in the Southeast United States. Continued harvest restrictions have stimulated investigations of stock enhancement for this species. Challenges to develop red snapper hatchery methods include unreliable spawning activity of captive broodstocks and low fecundity and fertility of spawns, but also difficulties raising offspring through the early larval stages. Collaborative research projects in recent years have addressed these bottlenecks through studies of sexual maturation of captive broodfish, evaluation of hormonal therapies to induce maturation and spawning, investigations on the nutritional requirements of red snapper larvae, and development of alternative larval feeds. Tagging and monitoring of the success and impact of releases are being evaluated in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources reef fish monitoring program and include a genetic program that aims to establish the bases for a sustainable genetic management of release activities. Current status of the project and future orientations will be discussed.