An evaluation of the benefits of artificial habitats for red….doc

An evaluation of the benefits of artificial habitats for red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, in the northeast Gulf of Mexico SZEDLMAYER, S.T. Marine Fish Laboratory Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture Auburn University 8300 State Hwy 104 Fairhope, AL 36532 ABSTRACT Evidence for red snapper, Lutjanus campechanus, production from artificial habitats has been difficult to obtain. The benefits of such habitats for red snapper were evaluated by examining red snapper diets, predator exclusions, habitat complexity, and epibenthic communities in association with artificial habitats over a 10 year period. Also examined were movement patterns from ultrasonic telemetry, and population parameters estimated from fishery independent methods. These studies suggested that red snapper: 1) had a high affinity for artificial habitats, 2) showed consistent feeding on reef prey types, 3) were significantly more abundant on habitats with available prey, 4) showed a significant correlation between abundance and habitat complexity, 5) showed long term residency with some tracked over two years, and 6) abundance significantly increased when predators were excluded. In addition, population status of red snapper off coastal Alabama based on a fishery independent survey of 94 artificial habitats, using fish traps, diver surveys, and otolith aging suggested a better condition compared to previous population assessments. Collectively these results suggest that artificial habitats in the northern Gulf of Mexico contribute significantly to the production of red snapper. KEYWORDS: red snapper, otolith aging, predator exclusion, diet, artificial reef Una evaluación de los beneficios de los hábitat artificiales del huachinango del Golfo, Lutjanus campechanus, en el noreste del Golfo de México La evidencia del huachinango del Golfo, Lutjanus campechanus, en cuanto a su producción en hábitat artificiales ha sido difícil de obtener. Los beneficios de dichos hábitat p