MOTE MARINE LABORATORY

FISHERIES  BIOLOGY

Center for Fisheries Enhancement

Fish Biology

FISHERIES  BIOLOGY  PROGRAM

Mission Statement

The goal of the Fish Biology Program is to contribute to the successful management of coastal pelagic and reef fish species. The focus is both national and international, including migratory coastal pelagic and reef fish species, which form an important component in United States, Latin America and the Caribbean fisheries.

Research objectives of the Program concentrate on obtaining life history and stock assessment data for management of coastal pelagic and reef fish species. Areas of particular interest include :

Fish physiology

Age and Growth

Reproduction

Early life history

Movement and migration patterns

Success in achieving these objectives will result in the realization of the stated goal through utilization of acquired life history and fish physiology data to evaluate and recommend management strategies for these species.

Target species include:

Cobia

Dolphin

Red Grouper

Red Snapper

Gag

Mangrove Snapper

Greater Amberjack

Mutton Snapper

Scamp

Vermilion Snapper

The Coastal Pelagic Tagging Program and the Reef Fish Tagging Program were initiated in 1990 to obtain information on these species. Volunteer taggers include scientists, charter boat captains, and commercial and recreational fishermen. Tagging sites extend from the northeastern Gulf of Mexico off Pensacola to the Florida Keys and in the Atlantic from Miami to St. Augustine. A few cobia and greater amberjack have been tagged in the South Atlantic off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. A number of dolphin have been tagged off Africa. Funding for the programs is derived mostly from donations from fishing organizations, both commercial and recreational. Data from the programs have provided the basis for scientific publications, and 3 successful research proposals. The data have also been utilized by NOAA/NMFS personnel for stock assessments and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. Information from the programs has been disseminated to the public during presentations at fishing clubs, in newspaper articles and during guest appearances on radio and television broadcasts.

Venting Ichthyoplankton Fish Tagging

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SEE THE 
VIDEO

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SEE THE
 VIDEO

 

CIRCLE HOOK UPDATES

 
 

 

Interns

Current Projects

Publications

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COASTAL PELAGIC SPECIES

Cobia

Dolphin

REEF  FISH
Vermilion Snapper Red Grouper Greater Amberjack  Gag  Mangrove Snapper
Speckled Hind Nassau Grouper Red Snapper Lane Snapper Mutton Snapper
Scamp

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Last update: June 15, 2004


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