|
|
 Red Snapper The Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council (1992) estimated that 4.2 – 8 million age 2 red snapper exist in the entire U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Stanley and Wilson (1997), using hydro-acoustic monitoring, found an average of 5,307 age 2 red snapper will reside at an offshore platform at any given time. There are ~ 1,051 structures in suitable depth ranges and environments for red snapper. Projecting those numbers would supply an estimate that 5.6 million age 2 red snapper reside at offshore platforms. This is unambiguous evidence that petroleum structures are crucial to maintaining stocks of Federally Managed Species. |
|
