Red Drum Fisheries Management of Coastal Florida
Danny W. Lyles
COMM/215
May 7, 2012
David Mumford

Abstract
This paper is intended to evaluate the success or failure of the fisheries management regarding Red Drum or Sciaenops ocellatus in the coastal Florida area of the United States. The Red Drum, or the common name “Redfish”, is a popular sport fish among anglers due to its reputation as a formidable adversary, and the value of it on the market for table fare. The advent of blackened recipes from the bayous of the southeast has also increased its popularity.

Red Drum Fisheries Management of Coastal Florida The Red Drum inhabits inshore, near shore, and offshore waters throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. The adults spawn in rivers, bayous, and tidal areas and the fry will reside there for up to four years. This species can reach lengths of forty five inches and weigh as much as fifty pounds. Spawning is triggered by cooling waters and a decrease in daylight hours associated with late summer and fall. In 1989, the Red Drum was considered overfished in large part due to the fishing pressure placed on the species by recipes of “Blackened Redfish” introduced in Louisiana Cajun style restaurants and the chef’s that enjoyed success from the new menu item. In an attempt to control and regulate the harvesting of the species, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) instituted a slot limit of eighteen to twenty – seven inches with a bag limit of one per person. They also mandated a closed season from March to May yearly. Commercial harvesting of the fish was outlawed completely to the chagrin of commercial fishermen statewide.
These measures have been viewed as a success by fisheries biologist and the FWC in general as the goal for the stock rebound of forty percent escapement was exceeded. This figure represents the proportion of specimens to survive four years. The escapement goal was raised from thirty percent to forty in 2007 in response to stakeholder input to produce abundantly larger fish. This was also a direct result of a stock assessment provided in 2005. Measures of this magnitude require voting of the FWC Management Commission which convenes every June.
Current regulations were changed and went into effect February 1, 2012. These changes are a reflection of exceeded expectations in the northern areas of the state in regards to stock assessment and management goals. Bag and vessel limits were increased, and transportation restrictions were relaxed in an effort to continue a management change of thriving stocks. Other changes implemented were the charitable donations of sacrificed fish to local soup kitchens and other groups in an effort to reduce waste of resources. ("Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission", 2012)
The FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) has been tasked with the responsibility of monitoring the fisheries progress, and provide comprehensive study analysis to support any changes in the management and regulation of the species. Non aggregate fisheries management is not entirely a new concept to the FWC, as proven by prior successful management practices in the increased stock assessment in regards to the state Snook and Tarpon fisheries. These successes have paved the way for future “slot exempt” style management practices regarding fisheries as has been evident in the recent Sea Trout regulation changes.
The primary opposition for regulatory changes presents itself in the form of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA). The CCA does not support any current or proposed FWC changes in the Red Drum fisheries management citing the huge success of current regulations. The primary focus of the CCA agenda regarding management changes is in the zoning regulations imposed by the FWC. These zones are divided by a north and south sector with an increase of bag limits to be allowed in the north zone exclusively. The argument posed by CCA is that creating separate zones and increasing bag limits will jeopardize the entire management plan and place the species at risk.
The CCA credits a successful 1988 campaign of prohibiting commercial harvesting and improved restriction driven by their organization. The claim is that the additional protective measures resulted in the revitalized stock assessment by the FWRI. Without these changes, they argue, the population would be in serious decline with possible change of status to “vulnerable”. They also claim that a stock assessment from the FWC does not support an increase in bag limits citing Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR) instead of escapement percentage. They also use data from the FWC escapement charts that indicate a declining rate over the past decade.
No biological evidence exists to support a zoning status regarding the state fisheries. If a zoning regulation were to be implemented, genetic and tagging data indicates the zones to be east and west rather than the current objectives. This resultant data is an indication of juvenile stocks and migration of the species in regards to the two separate bodies of water that form the coasts of the state. There is concern that the current process will cause a substantial decline in the southern zone due to migratory habits along the coast, versus a coast to coast route. ("Coastal Conservation Association of Florida", 2012).
In summary, it is this writer’s opinion that current regulations are satisfactory in the protection of the species, and further data must be collected to facilitate changes to the state’s policies. The proven successes of the current management techniques do not support a relaxation of those practices, and a continued monitoring of the fishery is required to insure the health and prosperity of the species.

References
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.myfwc.com
Coastal Conservation Association of Florida. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.ccaflorida.org