Tracking juvenile sport fish movement from a habitat restoration site to fished populations of Tampa Bay
Many commercially and recreationally important fishes use estuarine habitats as juvenile nursery grounds. However, many of these habitats are threatened by a number of stressors, including rising sea levels and increasing urbanization. Restoration and preservation of affected juvenile habitats can help support adult populations. To see our team in action and get a taste for the project, check out this Youtube Short reel featuring FWRI staff.
The Robinson Preserve Sport Fish Tagging Project was initiated to determine the extent to which the habitat restoration at Robinson Preserve, a 682-acre area with a variety of restored fisheries nursery habitat, contributes juvenile sport fish to adult populations in the greater Tampa Bay area. The contribution of juveniles is a major information gap that exists for many habitat restoration projects, despite being a realistic metric for evaluating restoration success. With the help of Manatee County Department of Parks and Natural Resources and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Habitat Conservation, researchers at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute are seeking to fill this information gap by tagging and tracking the movement of juvenile sport fishes from and within Robinson Preserve.
11
Receivers Placed
7
Data Downloads
78
Fish Caught
6
Species Tagged
64
Tags Implanted
1.8 million
Detections
11
Receivers Placed
7
Data Downloads
78
Fish Caught
6
Species Tagged
64
Tags Implanted
1.8 million
Detections