Date of Award
8-2026
Degree Type
Masters Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
School
Ocean Science and Engineering
Committee Chair
Michael J. Andres
Committee Chair School
Ocean Science and Engineering
Committee Member 2
Kim de Mutsert
Committee Member 2 School
Ocean Science and Engineering
Committee Member 3
Nancy Brown-Peterson
Committee Member 3 School
Ocean Science and Engineering
Abstract
Estuaries within the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) provide nursery habitat for a variety of commercially and recreationally valuable finfish species. The connectivity of inshore nursery habitat and offshore adult habitats pose challenges for management, as many species occupy these areas seasonally or for brief periods during ontogeny. As such, alterations to management of one species may have far reaching effects on various species at different levels of their ontogeny. For example, increasing regulations on Red Snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) have led to increased angling pressure on several reef associated fishes in direct response to such action. Two such species which use estuaries as nursery habitat and have undergone increased angling pressure are Gray Snapper (Lutjanus griseus) and Atlantic Tripletail (Lobotes surinamensis). To address data gaps for this species, I sought to determine age, growth, reproduction, and movement of Gray Snapper within inshore Mississippi waters. Using reproductive histology and network analysis of movement data, I determined the inshore spawning was likely not occurring and that Gray Snapper likely transition to offshore adult habitats during summer and autumn. I also sought to determine seasonal movement of Atlantic Tripletail throughout the GoM and to determine drivers of seasonal movement. I determined that Atlantic Tripletail likely do not migrate along the coast of the GoM like other coastal pelagic fishes, and that temperature is the greatest driver of movement within estuaries. Developing a greater understanding of behavior during different phases of ontogeny provides critical information regarding future management for both of these species.
Copyright
Perry, Joshua, 2026
Recommended Citation
Perry, Joshua W., "Mind the Gap: Addressing Deficiencies for Two Data-Limited Fishery Species in the Gulf of Mexico" (2026). Master's Theses. 1210.
https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/1210