Red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus) is the most economically important reef fish species in the Gulf of Mexico and is considered to be a fishery in decline due to overfishing. Red snapper represents a vital economic commodity for coastal communites along the Gulf of Mexico and supports highly lucrative commercial and recreational fisheries. Because of the high dollar value of these fisheries, effective management strategies are critical to ensure the sustainability of this resource for future generations. Our lab is studying the mortality, recruitment, and population connectivity of red snapper using a variety of techniques that include both active and passive acoustic telemetry, tagging and recapture studies, hyperbaric experimentation, and genetics. The goal of our research is to elucidate some of these pervasive life history questions in order to aid fishery managers in developing more effective management strategies for conservation of this important fishery.