What types of studies are conducted prior to starting the stocking program?
A long-term population monitoring program was started in the mid 1970’s. In particular, TPW Coastal Fisheries has an excellent long-term data base of fish populations in Texas Bay systems. This data is used to determine the number of hatchery fish (red drum and spotted seatrout) that are stocked into each bay system. Cage and fish survival studies were conducted prior to the program starting. The process of assessing the success of any hatchery program should always be ongoing. We have a number of studies underway to assess the performance of hatchery fish in the wild on a short-term and long-term basis.
