Apollo Beach Recreational Sportfish Hatchery Facility
Implementing Organization
State of Florida
Overview
DWH Project Funding
$8,320,000
Known Leveraged Funding
$0
Funding Organization
Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (NRDA)
Funding Program
Natural Resource Damage Assessment NRDA
Details
Project Category
Recreational Use
Project Actions
Engineering and/or Construction
Targeted Resources
Recreational Resources
Project Description
This project will be the second phase of development of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) marine fish stock enhancement facility at Apollo Beach. Phase 1, which was funded with state appropriations, included design and construction of a 10,000-square foot marine fish hatchery which is providing broodstock capacity needed for a marine stock enhancement program in Florida; design and partial construction of an office; and all necessary aquaculture equipment. Phase 2, which is being funded by this NRDA project, will design and construct an adjacent 6,500-square foot fish production facility to support production and release of up to one million juvenile sportfish (i.e. red drum and spotted seatrout) to further enhance recreational fishing opportunities and the natural fisheries populations. Phase 2 will also finish the office space in the existing building, which will be used as an operations center for hatchery staff. The released sportfish will enhance and increase angling opportunities directly when they are caught and indirectly when survivors enter the adult spawning population. By increasing the number of sportfish available to be caught, this project will help compensate for interim losses to recreational use of natural resources by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Contact
Gareth Leonard(850) 508-4796
gareth.leonard@myfwc.com
Project Website
None
For official trustee information regarding the Deepwater Horizon NRDA, including information regarding the NRDA process and the status of projects, see https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/