Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Oceanography and Coastal Sciences

Document Type

Dissertation

Abstract

The greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) is a socio-economically important fish targeted in commercial, artisanal, and recreational fisheries around the world. Population trends are generally unknown; however, there are indications of localized declines in waterbodies such as the Gulf of Mexico. Despite the importance of the greater amberjack fishery worldwide, there has been relatively little effort to study this species, and as a result, the current literature presents a fragmented picture where the focus of greater amberjack scientific research has been on captive rearing and reproduction for aquaculture production. Knowledge of the ecology and biology of the greater amberjack is incomplete, which limits both stock assessments and the information required to maintain sustainable levels of exploitation. This dissertation 1) synthesizes available information relating to the greater amberjack and its global fisheries and identifies fundamental questions that remained unanswered for the major stocks of greater amberjack, 2) investigates spatial variability in the age and growth of greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, 3) assesses the individual variability in growth of greater amberjack for both males and females, 4) characterizes the distribution, habitat use, and size structure of the greater amberjack population in the northern Gulf, and 5) examines connectivity and stock structure of greater amberjack across the Gulf, comparing natal origin and adult habitat use to evaluate whether regional population structure exists and whether current management boundaries are biologically justified

Date

7-20-2026

Committee Chair

Midway, Stephen R.

LSU Acknowledgement

1

LSU Accessibility Acknowledgment

1

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Available for download on Thursday, July 19, 2029

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