Better Understanding Juvenile Tarpon Ecology in Texas Coastal Bend Nursery Habitats

The purpose of this project is to provide new information on the occurrence, abundance, and residency of juvenile tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) occurring in nursery habitats in the Texas Coastal Bend to inform the development of conservation plans for this important sportfish. In addition to overfishing of adult tarpon, scientists have speculated that the fishery collapse observed in Texas in the mid-1900s was the result of recruitment failure to the area. Unfortunately, our understanding of basic habitat requirements of juvenile tarpon in Texas is very limited, precluding our ability to assess population trends and develop sound conservation strategies. These data are critical for understanding how human influences and future changes to habitat may affect tarpon distributions and ultimately population recovery along the Texas Coast.

Using standardized bimonthly field sampling, acoustic telemetry, and conventional tagging, the specific objectives of this project are to:

1. Determine the frequency of occurrence, abundance, and habitat characteristics of juvenile tarpon in Coastal Bend nurseries,
2. Monitor seasonal residency of juvenile tarpon in identified nurseries using acoustic tracking, and
3. Collect and preserve fin clips for future genetic investigation of regional population size.

The information provided by this project will fill severe knowledge gaps pertaining to the juvenile ecology of this species and provide managers with data needed to develop effective conservation plans for these important sportfish.