As urbanization of coastal areas continues, habitat restoration may never satisfactorily occur or support populations of fish in developed estuaries at a sustainable level. Stock enhancement may be one pragmatic approach for addressing increased fishing pressure and declining stocks.
The objective of this project in the final two years of an eight-year Sea Grant-funded study, is to complete research on red drum restocking efforts in South Carolina by (1) documenting the impacts of stocking red drum on a local recreational fishery and (2) quantifying the effects that may occur to the wild population in the stocked estuary. Further, the PIs will monitor fish growth and movement and population size in 2 large (10,000 ha water) and 2 small (<500 ha surface water).