Predator-free enclosures improve post-release survival of stocked common snook

Hatchery-reared fish may not be behaviorally competent in the wild, thus increasing mortality rates of fishes stocked into natural environments. The goal of this study was to determine whether in situ acclimation at release sites can increase survival of juvenile hatchery-reared common snook (Centropomus undecimalis), a catadromous fish, stocked into an estuary in Sarasota, Florida. Juvenile snook (76-251 mm fork length) were tagged with coded-wire tags and released in four locations distributed along a salinity gradient of North Creek estuary. Three replicate releases were performed at each location. Overall, 1935 snook were acclimated in enclosures for 3 d, then, released simultaneously with 1925 non-acclimated snook (non caged snook transported direct from the laboratory and stocked into the creek). For recaptures of snook at large for 3 d or more, mean recapture rates of experimental release groups were significantly different (multiway ANOVA testing recapture rates by acclimation treatment, release site, and interactions, P = 0.001). Specifically, mean recapture rates of acclimated groups were 1.92 higher than those for non-acclimated groups (P = 0.002); hatchery snook recaptured from two of the four release sites represented 70% of total recaptures (P = 0.001); interactions between acclimation treatment and release site were not significant (P = 0.71). Site fidelity was approximately 60% regardless of acclimation condition, and did not significantly influence recapture rates. Thus, in situ acclimation has potential to significantly improve both post-release survival and information gained in stocking programs.