Dr. John Dindo , Dauphin Island Sea Lab

1. Red snapper (Lutjanuscampechanus) research at Dauphin Island Sea Lab Dr. John Dindo, Dauphin Island Sea Lab

2. OUTLINE • PART I: Red snapper and a history of the fishery • PART II: Habitat creation and restoration • PART III: Red snapper population assessment

3. Overview of Red Snapper Fishery

5. U.S. Landings of Red Snapper in U.S. Waters 1880-2003 7000000 Beginning of oil exploration in western gulf 6000000 5000000 Commercial Landings (lbs) 4000000 East West 3000000 2000000 1000000 0 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 big drop as fleet spends more effort off Campeche move to Campeche complete increasing local catch by “boats” (vessels <5 tons) Great Depression World War II Boat building boom History of the Red Snapper Fishery 2007 New Snapper Regulations??? Clay E. Porch, Stephen C. Turner, and Michael J. Schirripa. 2004. The commercial landings of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico from 1872 to 1962. SEDAR7-AW-22 (data 1880-1962). John R. Poffenberger and Stephen C. Turner. 2004. Documentation on the preparation of the database for the red snapper stock assessment SEDAR workshop. SEDAR7-AW-17rev. (data 1962-2003)

7. Total Area = 3,108 km2 Corp of Engineers pre-permitted since 1987 Estimated over 20,000 structures deployed since 1958 Alabama’s Artificial Reef System AL MS FL LA

8. Hugh Swingle Area • MRD Reefs consist of Liberty ships, tanks, barges, toppled rigs, and concrete bridge rubble • Recreational fisherman can deploy “private” reefs with pre-approved materials • USA deploys and maintains concrete aggregate research modules within Hugh Swingle Courtesy ALMRD

9. Habitat Creation & Restoration • Builds on 10 year tagging program: existing reefs installed 1998 • Primary study units: ~ 18 ”private” reef complexes(reef balls, grouper ghettos) • Additional artificial reefs sampled: 12 public reefs(tanks, ships, barges, bridge rubble)

10. Abundant Target Species Red Snapper Grey Triggerfish Red Grouper Vermilion Snapper Gag Grouper Scamp

11. Sampling Methods • 8 stations fished 30 min each • Fishing effort: 10 anglers with bottom & sow rigs • Size measurements (FL/TL) • Target fishes are tagged & released, & condition index is recorded • Recapture information gathered from fishermen

12. Fishers’ Recoveries slide courtesy of Will Patterson Net movement from NCG to east, southeast Little observed movement to west

13. ROV Work

15. Red snapper population assessment • Multi-gear sampling program designed to address critical data needs for future stock assessment • Side scan sonar • Bottom trawl • ROV • Vertical longline • Bottom longline

16. Red snapper size by gear type

17. Red snapper CPUE by month (2010)

18. Acknowledgements Captains Mike and Skipper Theirryand the crew of the boats “Lady Ann” and “Escape” Tech Support, boat time, fishing volunteers and graduate students