THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO OPTIMIZE FERTILIZED EGG PRODUCTION YEAR-ROUND IN ATLANTIC CROAKER THROUGH (A) ALTERING IN-TANK WATER VELOCITY (B) SEX-RATIO MANIPULATION AND (C) FURTHER DESCRIBING SPAWNING SEASONALITY IN FLORIDA. THESE OBJECTIVES WILL BE TRIALED IN TANKS ON A COMMERCIAL AQUACULTURE FARM, WITH PRODUCTION OUTPUT SUCH AS NUMBER OF EGGS, PERCENT FERTILIZATION, PERFECT HATCH, AND SURVIVAL TO FIRST FEEING RECORDED. RESULTS WILL BE PRESENTED IN NUMEROUS FORMATS TO BOTH COMMERCIAL AND ACADEMIC AUDIENCES WITH AN AIM TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPANSION OF THE INDUSTRY. MATURE FISH WILL BE COLLECTED FROM THE WILD IN BOTH OCT 2024 AND OCT 2025 (REPRESENTING PEAK-SPAWNING CONDITION) UTILIZING LICENSED FISHERS WITH SPECIAL COLLECTION EXPERIENCE.