In October, Governor Jeb Bush is scheduled to release the one millionth redfish fingerling into Tampa Bay. "The release highlights a major state saltwater hatchery project to enhance redfish populations in Tampa Bay," said CCA Florida Executive Director Ted Forsgren. "We think it's great that Governor Bush is helping to celebrate this significant milestone."

Florida's saltwater hatchery and the Tampa Bay redfish project are programs of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Financial support for the hatchery programs comes primarily from funds generated by the saltwater recreational fishing license.

"This redfish stocking program is a prime example of the type of fisheries enhancement project that saltwater anglers envisioned when they supported passage of the fishing license," said Forsgren. Last session, the Florida Legislature appropriated an additional $435,000 in license monies to expand the production capability at the hatchery. In addition, groups like CCA Florida and the FishAmerica Foundation, Inc. have provided funding for specific improvement projects at the hatchery.

CCA Florida members in the Tampa and Pinellas Chapters are active supporters and volunteers for Tampa Bay hatchery programs. CCA Florida volunteers have also helped the FWC capture the redfish brood stock for the hatchery.

"It is exciting to be a part of all of this," said CCA Tampa chapter member Richard Seward. "The best part is, as fishermen, we will be seeing the benefits of this stocking effort in a short period of time."

Redfish protection and management has been a centerpiece of CCA Florida's fisheries conservation work for many years. In 1988, CCA Florida successfully campaigned to have commercial sale of redfish prohibited and to have strict harvest regulations placed on recreational fishers. As a result, Florida's redfish populations have dramatically increased. "It is one of Florida's major fisheries management success stories," said Forsgren.

CCA Florida noted that the hatchery programs will further enhance redfish populations. However, the hatchery and stocking programs are designed to enhance not replace management efforts on wild populations. "We still need to maintain the conservation measures which have created such a healthy and outstanding redfish fishery in Florida," said Forsgren.

"The FWC's Tampa Bay Project is fine tuning the science and technology of redfish stocking," said Forsgren. "We expect the success and benefits from this program to lay the foundation for stocking efforts that will soon follow in other Florida bays and estuaries."