Fish and Wildlife Research Institute

Stock_Enhancement_Projects

Projects and Research

While freshwater stock enhancement is well developed, marine stock enhancement is still relatively new. The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute's Stock Enhancement Research Facility (SERF) participates in numerous programs and research efforts designed to support fisheries management work by using hatchery-reared animals to supplement or restore native fisheries populations.

Bay Scallop Restoration

Bay scallop populations have been declining along the Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida since at least the 1960s.

Indian River Lagoon

In February 1999, the FWC began stocking the Indian River Lagoon with hatchery-reared red drum to help restore native populations.

Project Tampa Bay

The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI), in partnership with Mote Marine Laboratory (MML), is in the midst of a large-scale redfish (red drum) stock enhancement project in Tampa Bay.


FWC Facts:
Hoplo are found throughout central and south Florida. They prefer low-oxygen backwaters and ditches, where they can be observed flipping at the surface as they gulp air.

Learn More at AskFWC