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Field Experiments on Survival Rates of Caged and Released Red Snapper
Author(s) -
Gitschlag Gregg R.,
Renaud Maurice L.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8675(1994)014<0131:feosro>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - fish <actinopterygii> , fishery , predation , zoology , significant difference , fish measurement , biology , ecology , mathematics , statistics
Survival of red snapper Lutjanus campechanus captured by hook and line and then released was evaluated by two methodologies: release into cages and surface release, Fish captured at a depth of 50 m off the northeastern Texas coast were placed in cages, lowered to a depth of 35 m, and monitored at irregular intervals by scuba divers for 10–15 d. Sixty‐four percent of caged red snapper survived. There was no significant difference in survival due to size (<30 cm versus ≥ 30 cm fork length; P = 0.59, N = 55) or to gas bladder eversion from the oral cavity ( P = 0. 13, N = 45). No predation on red snapper released at the surface was observed. Survival rates were 99%, 90%, and 56% for fish captured at depths of 21–24 m, 27–30 m, and 37–40 m, respectively. Survival rates varied significantly with depth ( P = 0.00, N = 232), suggesting an inverse relationship between survival and capture depth.