RED DRUM STOCK ENHANCEMENT IN SC: A 20 YEAR PERSPECTIVE

Red drum has served as a model species for marine stocking programs of recreational species in the southeastern United States since the mid-1980s when population abundance of red drum was impacted by overfishing.  Since that time, stocking programs in Texas, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia have, to varying degrees, sought to increase juvenile abundance and restore depleted populations by releasing hatchery reared fish into the wild.  In the ensuing years, the combination of traditional fisheries management of size and creel limits and hatchery releases have helped to restore red drum population abundance throughout much of its range.

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has developed an integrated marine stocking program based on "Responsible Approach to Marine Stock Enhancement Guidelines" designed to use hatchery fish for stock enhancement as well as to answer scientific questions about estuaries and ecosystems along the South Carolina coastline.

Since the adult population is protected yet recruitment is highly variable, the goal of our stocking program has been to increase abundance of subadults within the estuary to improve fishing and help meet the fishery management plans mandated 40% spawning potential ratio.  Over the years we have evaluated population genetic health, effective population size, and stock structure along the coast to better understand potential impacts of stocking and are developing models that can be applied to forecast potential genetic effects of stocking on wild populations before stocking is initiated.

In addition by utilizing a statewide stratified independent random sampling survey, we have been able to better understand population dynamics, movement patterns, and recruitment limitations as well as evaluate the scope of estuarine stocking on the overall population.  Our latest research considers recruitment bottlenecks, sweepstakes effects, effective population size, and system carrying capacity.  This presentation will serve as a review of 20 years of stocking red drum along the coast of South Carolina.