23-43-CWS | December 15, 2023
BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Hatchery Bureau made the final 2023 release of juvenile Spotted Seatrout into Mississippi Gulf Coast estuaries on Thursday, Dec. 14. A total of 4,000 6-inch Spotted Seatrout, raised in collaboration with the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory for the stock enhancement program, were released in locations in Harrison and Jackson counties.
This year, the program has raised and released over 190,000 Spotted Seatrout of various sizes in different locations spanning all three coastal counties. Subsets of the larger Spotted Seatrout, totaling 750 individuals, have been tagged with Visible Elastomer Implants (VIE) tags in the tail fin to assist with monitoring stock enhancement program success.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the DMR online at dmr.ms.gov.
