Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.104731
Element CodeAFCQA01040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderPerciformes
FamilyMoronidae
GenusMorone
COSEWICPS: X,E,SC
Other Common NamesBar rayé (FR)
Concept ReferenceRobins, C.R., R.M. Bailey, C.E. Bond, J.R. Brooker, E.A. Lachner, R.N. Lea, and W.B. Scott. 1991. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada. American Fisheries Society, Special Publication 20. 183 pp.
Taxonomic CommentsFormerly placed in the genus Roccus. Distinct populations occur within Chesapeake Bay and in other areas (Chapman 1990). Wirgin et al. (1989) found unique mtDNA genotypes in the Apalachicola River system, suggesting the continued existence there of a maternal lineage of Gulf ancestry. The family Percichthyidae was recognized by Robins et al. (1991) as possibly polyphyletic but was retained for convenience.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-03-12
Change Date2025-03-12
Edition Date2025-01-22
Edition AuthorsGundy, R. L. (2025)
Threat ImpactHigh - medium
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 80
Rank ReasonsThe population suffered steep historical declines during the mid-20th century due to habitat loss and degradation, and fishing-related mortality. All Gulf of Mexico populations were lost except one population whose continued existence depends on fish stocking. The Atlantic population began to rebound during the last decades of the 20th century, but Atlantic populations are declining again due to the continued impacts of habitat degradation and fishing-related mortality.
Range Extent CommentsHistorically, this species was found in two separate populations occupying the drainages of the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The Atlantic population is found in drainages from the St. Lawrence River, Canada, south to the St. Johns River, Florida, United States. The Gulf of Mexico population was historically found in drainages from the Suwannee River, Florida to Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, and peripherally to coastal areas of eastern Texas (Crance 1984, Hill et al. 1989). The only population in the historical Gulf of Mexico range with Gulf of Mexico genotypes remaining is in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River system, which is augmented by annual stocking and not considered self-sustaining (Long et al. 2013). All other populations in the Gulf of Mexico are composed of Atlantic genetic stock from fish stocking (Long et al. 2013), and are not considered for the purpose of this assessment.
This species has also been introduced to inland areas of the United States, along the Pacific Coast of North America, and in Eurasia (Crance 1984, Hill et al. 1989). This non-native portion of the range was not considered as part of this assessment.
Occurrences CommentsThis species is represented by several large subpopulations.
Threat Impact CommentsMortality from fishing-related activities in the Atlantic is one of the greatest contemporary threats to this species. Habitat destruction and fishing-related mortality contributed to the decline along the U.S. east coast in the late 1970s and early 1980s until hatchery production and restrictions on the harvest resulted in population increases in the Chesapeake Bay region by the early 1990s (Hill et al. 1989, Diamond 1990). However, the ongoing impacts of habitat destruction and fishing pressure remain. Fishing-related activities removed an average of 6.3 million fish from the Atlantic annually from 2013-2023 (ASMFC 2024). Of those fish removed from the Atlantic population in 2022-2023 by fishing-related activities, 49% were harvested by recreational fishing, 40% perished after being released by recreational fishing, 10% were harvested by commercial fishing, and 0.5% were bycatch/discards in commercial fishing (ASMFC 2024).
The Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River population is primarily threatened by the reduction of natural cool water sources and reduced river flow rates due to groundwater extraction by humans, and by reduced river flow rates due to dams and reservoirs (Long et al. 2013). The invasive aquatic plant (Hydrilla verticillata) contributes to hampered recovery of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint population by contributing to reduced food supply, slow growth, decreased habitat, increased predation, and lower overall survival (Long et al. 2013). Harvest from recreational fishing accounts for the loss of several hundred fish per year from this population (Long et al. 2013).