Red drum

Copper sulfate is used to control protozoan fish ectoparasites including Ichthyopthirius, Tri-chodina, and Costia. The effectiveness of the treatment diminishes with increasing total alkalinity and total hardness of the water (Straus and Tucker 1993). Copper compounds now used to control protozoan parasites of cultured red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) include copper sulfate, copper sulfate plus citric acid, and chelated copper compounds (forms of copper bound by sequestering agents, such as ethanolamine) chelated copper compounds are considered less toxic to fish than copper sulfate and at least as effective in controlling parasites (Peppard etal. 1991). 

Red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus South Carolina 1990-93 whole... 

Peppard, E.M., W.R. Walters, J.W. Avault, Jr., and W.G. Perry, Jr. 1991. Toxicity of chelated copper to juvenile red drum Sciaenops ocellatus. Jour. World Aquacult. Soc. 22 101-108. 

Endrin has been detected in several marine fish species in regional or state monitoring studies. From 1990 to 1993, endrin was found in 40 of 47 whole or fillet samples of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) at 2 of 4 sites along the South Carolina coast, at mean concentrations of 5.61 8.94 and 0.65 3.67 ppb wet weight (Mathews 1994). In this same study, endrin was found in 33 of 74 flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) samples, and in 19 of 58 seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) samples at only one coastal site, at mean concentrations of 0.14 0.81 and 2.68 11.13 ppb, respectively. Endrin was detected in all of 10 liver tissue samples from cod (Gadus morhua) in the Northwest Atlantic at a mean concentration of 9 ppb (range, 5-19 ppb), but not in muscle or ovary samples (Hellou et al. 1993). 

Rooker, J.R. and Holt, G.J. (1996). AppHcation of RNA DNAratios to evaluate the condition and growth of larval and juvenile red drum. Marine Freshwater Research, 47 283-290. 

Unlike catfish, tilapia, trout and salmon, that produce several hundred to several thousand eggs per female, many marine species produce large numbers of very small eggs. Hundreds of thousands to millions of eggs are produced by such species as halibut, flounders, red drum, striped bass, and shrimp. Catfish, salmon, and trout spawn once a year, while tilapia and some marine species spawn repeatedly if the proper environmental conditions are maintained (1). Red drum, for example, spawn every few days for periods of several months when light and temperature and properly controlled (10). 

Torres, J. J., Brightman, R. L, Donnelly, J., and Harvey, J. (1996). Energetics of larval red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus. Part I. Oxygen consumption, specific dynamic action, and nitrogen excretion. Eish Bull. NOAA 94, 756-765. 

It is noteworthy that muscle from two species of recreationally inportant fish spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus, red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus) collected from coastal bays in Texas considered minimally impacted by mercury exceeded the current recommended value in the U.S. of 0.3 mg total Hg/kg FW muscle. And walleye (Stizostedium vitreum vitreum) collected from Clay Lake, Ontario - a water body heavily contaminated by mercury wastes from a chloralkali plant between 1962 when discharges began and 1970 when the plant closed - contained 2.7 mg... 

In the Florida recreational fishery for red dmm (Sciaenops ocellatus), the current maximum size limit of 565 mm standard length or 689 mm total length is an effective filter that limits consumption of large fish containing elevated mercury concentrations. About 94% of all adult red drum from waters adjacent to Tampa Bay, Florida, contain mercury levels in muscle greater than 0.5 mg/kg FW muscle - the Florida Department of Health threshold level -and 64% contained >1.5 mg Hg/kg FW muscle, the Florida no consumption level. All fish from this area containing >1.5 mg Hg/kg FW muscle were >689 mm standard length. 

ARNOLD c R (1988) Controlled year-round spawning of red drum Sciaenops ocellatus in captivity. Contributions in Marine Science, vol. 30 (supplement), pp. 65-70. 

THOMAS p, ARNOLD c R and HOLT G J (1995) Red drum and other Sciaenids , in Bromage N R and Roberts R J (eds), Broodstock Management and Egg and Larval Quality. Oxford Blackwell Science, pp. 118-137. 

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