Observations of red drum mortality in the Gulf of Mexico

Date

1986

Authors

Spears, R.W.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Coastal Fisheries Branch

Abstract

Approximately 3,704 large red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) were found dead from 30 June 1981 to 9 July 1981 on the Gulf of Mexico beach from Cedar Bayou to Port Isabel, Texas. No other fish species were found. Autopsied fish did not show any signs of external injury. Plankton collected in nearshore Gulf waters were representative of those usually present and were not known to be toxic to fish. None were sufficiently abundant to produce anoxic conditions. Bacteria (Vibrio sp.) were found in the liver and brain tissue, but these are normally present in the environment and may have invaded the tissues after death. Causative factors of this mortality remain unknown.

Description

11 pgs.

Keywords

red drum, Sciaenops ocellata, mortality, aerial surveys, population dynamics, fishery surveys

Citation