Updating Predictive Models to Characterize Southern Flounder Distribution in Texas Estuaries

Southern Flounder is one of the most popular fish in Texas’ coastal waters, but its population has been steadily declining since the 1980s. As a species classified as "vulnerable to imperiled" in the Texas Conservation Action Plan, conservation efforts are crucial to ensure its future. While the exact reasons for the decline are unclear, factors like overfishing, rising water temperatures, and changes in habitat may be playing a role. To better understand these trends, this project aims to update predictive models that map where Southern Flounder are found in Texas estuaries. Using data from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department—collected through gill nets, bag seines, and trawls—researchers will analyze how environmental conditions impact flounder populations.

This information will help to address uncertainties regarding spatial descriptions of species distributions related to environmental factors and fish population size, providing resource managers with better tools to protect and restore Southern Flounder numbers.