Population Dynamics, Relative Abundance, and Habitat Suitability of Adult Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) in Nearshore Waters of the North-Central Gulf of Mexico

Authors

Crystal Hightower, University of South AlabamaFollow
J. Marcus Drymon, Mississippi State University-Coastal Research and Extension CenterFollow
Amanda E. Jefferson, Mississippi State University
Matthew B. Jargowsky, Mississippi State University
Emily A. Seubert, Mississippi State University
Simon Dedman, Stanford University
John Mareska, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources_Marine Resources DivisionFollow
Sean P. Powers, University of South AlabamaFollow

Document Type

Article

Abstract

In the Gulf of Mexico, the red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) is an immensely popular sportfish, yet the Gulf of Mexico stock is currently managed as data-limited in federal waters. The results of the federal stock assessment conducted in 2016 for Gulf of Mexico red drum were not recommended for providing management advice. Consequently, we sought to address data gaps highlighted in the assessment by producing up-to- date overall and sex-specific growth models, standardized indices of relative abundance, and predictions of habitat suitability and by updating estimates of natural mortality. Using a time series for the period of 2006–2018, we assigned ages of 0–36 years to 1178 red drum. A negative binomial generalized linear model including variables for year, depth, surface temperature, dissolved oxygen, and bottom salinity was used to standardize an index of relative abundance. Examination of catch per unit of effort revealed that adult red drum were significantly more abundant in state waters than in federal waters. These findings were explained by habitat suitability models, which were used to identify surface current velocity, surface temperature, and depth as the strongest predictors of relative abundance. The results of our investigation reveal that the adult spawning stock of red drum in the Gulf of Mexico is not fully protected by the catch moratorium in federal waters.

First Page

162

Last Page

175

DOI

10.7755/FB.120.2.6

Publication Date

2022

Comments

This article was published in the journal Fisheries Bulletin by The National Marine Fisheries Service.

Users must use the recommended publisher citation when citing this article.

Recommended Citation

Recommended Publisher Citation: Hightower, C. L., Drymon, J. M., Jefferson, A. E., Jargowsky, M. B., Seubert, E. A., Dedman, S., Mareska, J. F., & Powers, S. P. (2022). Population dynamics, relative abundance, and habitat suitability for adult red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) in nearshore waters of the north-central Gulf of Mexico. Fishery Bulletin, 120(2), 162–175. https://doi.org/10.7755/FB.120.2.6