Mote Marine Releases 22,000 Juvenile Snook in SW Florida

Mote Marine Laboratory will release approximately 22,000 juvenile snook into Southwest Florida estuaries this summer as part of its fisheries enhancement program.

Scientists at Mote's Aquaculture Research Park raised the fish and will distribute them to tidal creeks, mangrove shorelines, and sheltered coves selected for their food resources and habitat complexity. Researchers will track survival, movement, and breeding patterns to assess whether hatchery-reared snook strengthen wild populations.

"Our focus remains on producing healthy fish, releasing them strategically, and collecting the scientific data needed to better understand how stock enhancement can support resilient wild populations," said Dr. Ryan Schloesser, manager of Mote's Fisheries Ecology & Enhancement Program.

Mote scientists will use genetic tagging alongside traditional methods. By sequencing DNA from tissue samples collected after release, researchers can identify individual fish and trace them to their parent broodstock without the stress of physical tags.

Snook face threats from cold-water events, habitat loss, and harmful algal blooms. The species generates substantial economic value for Florida's recreational fishing industry. Mote plans to expand monitoring across neighboring counties to better respond to environmental stressors and inform future recovery strategies.