You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

Areas of Research

Fisheries & Aquaculture

Today's Research for Tomorrow's Oceans

Ocean resources sustain people and economies worldwide—but only if we sustain them. Mote scientists develop technology to produce sustainable, aquaculture-farmed seafood, and we pioneer research to replenish wild fisheries.

Mote scientists raise and responsibly release sportfishes vital to Florida’s economy to help boost populations affected by Florida red tide and other challenges. We also work to fill data gaps on snapper, grouper and other species that must be sustainably managed balance the needs of commercial fisheries and conservation.

We develop technology to farm saltwater animals and plants sustainably. That means cleaning and recycling water, using nutrients from fish culture to fertilize plant crops, and finding other innovative methods to empower food production and conservation together.

By the Numbers

+10000
pounds of red drum (redfish) raised sustainably

along with 1,000 pounds of plants during the past year in Mote’s Ron & Marla Wolf Aquaponics Center. The Center demonstrates and promotes commercialization of sustainable seafood farming technology.

+200000
commercial fishery catches documented

as of late 2023 by Mote scientists and partners who record video on participating Gulf of Mexico vessels to provide data for sustainable fisheries management.

+170000
detections of fish in the environment

this year by Mote scientists. We raise, tag and release Florida sportfish and monitor them using antenna arrays on shore to estimate their survival and find the most effective, responsible methods to replenish fisheries.

20000
red drum (redfish) released

in southwest Florida waters this year by Mote scientists to to optimize responsible fisheries enhancement practices. These efforts are in partnership with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with support from Salt Strong.

+5
of 6 surveyed sites had fewer goliath grouper

in 2022 than 2013: signs of possible declines revealed in Mote’s peer-reviewed study published this year in the journal Fishes

+100
people from 15 states participated in Women of the Water

This 2023 conference was held by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Aquaculture in partnership with Mote and Florida Sea Grant. Participants from aquaculture industry, research, academia, and government came together to share experiences and address challenges facing U.S. aquaculture.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Fisheries Electronic Monitoring

Left to right: Portable electronic monitoring unit case with processor and monitor, GPS, cameras, marine battery, a SeaSucker vacuum camera mount

Centers of Excellence

Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring at Mote

CFEMM is the only program dedicated to developing and assessing electronic monitoring (EM) technology as a tool in the Gulf of Mexico commercial reef fish fishery to better meet the demand by industry and management for accurate, independent data to ensure long-term fishery health.