PUNTA GORDA -- A conservation group is trying to repair some of the damage from last year's killer red tide along the Gulf Coast.
CCA-Florida has released three thousand juvenile snook at the mouths of two creeks in Charlotte County.
Executive director Brian Gorski says they'll be able to track them with hardware from Mote Marine Lab, which raised the snook. It works much the way microchips work for household pets.
Gorski says snook, redfish, trout and mullet were among the species hardest hit by red tide last year, with dead fish covering some beaches. CCA chose to replenish snook at the Charlotte County sites, on a recommendation from the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Duke Energy is helping to cover some of the costs. CCA is also reviving its "Adopt-a-Snook" program, which allows individuals and businesses to sponsor a snook for $100 and track it.
CCA has also participated in redfish restocking and plans to do the same with trout.