| American shad stocks along the Atlantic coast have displayed a slower than anticipated trend toward recovery despite large reductions in commercial harvest throughout their range. This may indicate that the quality and availability of riverine spawning habitat also plays a central role in American shad stock recovery. Presently, the St. Johns River is relatively un-regulated by dams and water control structures, but as the human populations continue to grow in Florida, the water within the St. Johns River basin is becoming increasingly valuable as a drinking water source. Diversion of some portion of flow in this system to Orlando is imminent.
We are using acoustic telemetry technology to track temporal and spatial components of annual American shad spawning migrations in the St. Johns River. As we identify key spawning locations, and characteristics of these locations, this information can be evaluated by state water management agencies. Ultimately, we wish to inform water use regulations such that human needs can be met in a responsible manner that continue to foster American shad stock recovery as well as the ecological integrity of the basin as a whole.
This study is funded by the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. |
