Cobia is the target of a well-developed recreational fishery in South Carolina. In S.C. waters, the population of cobia has a genetically distinct inshore spawning aggregation of fish, separate from offshore populations. Recent estimates of inshore abundance are indicative of a declining population. Concerns over the status of the inshore cobia population in S.C. have been raised by stakeholders, including state resource managers, recreational fishermen, and charter boat captains, and conservation actions including conservation action may become necessary. Guidance is needed on appropriate restoration strategies of stock enhancement and harvest reductions to facilitate recovery of the inshore cobia population.
This project will result in the development of a detailed model of cobia population demography and genetics, providing a simulation model for use during future restoration activities. The model will have implications for fisheries management and stock enhancement and will be developed to incorporate variation in reproductive success, variability in annual recruitment, and a background of population decline. Model parameters will be validated through comparisons of simulated and empirical genetic data. The model will be used to forecast outcomes of restoration strategies combining different levels of stock enhancement and harvest reduction in terms of population abundance and genetic diversity. Most importantly, the research will provide transparent and defensible management recommendations for the successful restoration of this important natural resource.