Joey Ballenger
Manager of the Inshore Fisheries Research Section, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

Phone: 843.953.9046
E-mail: ballengerj@dnr.sc.gov
Education
Ph.D., 2011, Oceanography, Old Dominion University, Department of Ocean, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
M.S., 2007, Fisheries, Auburn University, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences
B.S., 2004, Biology, Winthrop University
Research Interests
- fish life history and population dynamics
- fish biology/ecology
- fisheries science/management
- Integrated stock assessments
- Climatological effects on fish populations
Current research projects
- Life history, population dynamics, and abundance trends of estuarine finfish (e.g., red drum, spotted seatrout, American eel, Southern Flounder, Sheepshead) and coastal shark species (e.g., Bonnethead, Scalloped/Carolina Hammerhead, Atlantic Sharpnose, Blacktip Sharks, etc.) of South Carolina
- Anthropogenic and climatological drivers of fish populations
- Advancements of integrated stock assessments and the development of relative abundance indices
- Use of novel techniques for the determination of fish age, including the use of near infrared spectroscopy
Past research projects
- Life history and population dynamicsof reef fish species (e.g. black sea bass, scamp, red snapper, etc.) of the South Atlantic coast of the U.S.
- Accross population analysis of the population dynamics of Sheepshead
- Development of novel techniques for the development of species distribution models and relative abundace indices
- Use of molecular techniques to assess future reproductive potential of reef fish species
- Climatological effects on fish populations
Publications
- Adams, G.D., R.T. Leaf, J.C. Ballenger, S.A. Arnott, & C. J McDonough. Accepted. Spatial variability in the individual growth of Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) in the Southeast US: Implications for assessment and management. Fisheries Research 206: 35-43.
- Bacheler, N & J.C. Ballenger. 2018. Decadal-scale decline of Scamp (Mycteroperca phenax) abundance along the southeast United States coast. Fisheries Research 204: 74-87.
- Sinkus W., V. Shervette, J. Ballenger, L.A. Reed, C. Plante, & B. White. 2017. Mercury bioaccumulation in offshore reef fishes from waters of the Southeastern USA. Environmental Pollution 228: 222-233.
- Farmer, N.A., W.D. Heyman, M. Karnauskas, S. Kobara, T.I. Smart, J.C. Ballenger, M.J.M. Reichert, D.M. Wyanski, M.S. Tishler, K.C. Lindeman, S.K. Lowerre-Barbieri, T.S. Switzer, J.J. Solomon, K. McCain, M. Marhefka, G.R. Sedberry. 2017. Timing and locations of reef fish spawning off the southeastern United States. PloS One 12(3): e0172968.
- Lytton, A.R., J.C. Ballenger, M.J.M. Reichert, & T.I. Smart. 2016. Age validation of the North Atlantic stock of wreckfish (Polyprion americanus), based on bomb radiocarbon (14C), and new estimates of life history parameters. Fishery Bulletin 114(1):77-89.
- Bacheler, N. M. & J.C. Ballenger. 2015. Spatial and temporal patterns of Black Sea Bass sizes and catches in the southeastern United States inferred from spatially explicit nonlinear models. Marine & Coastal Fisheries 7: 523-536.
- Bacheler, N.M., D.J. Berrane, W.A. Mitchell, C.M. Schobernd, Z.H. Schobernd, B.Z. Teer, & J.C. Ballenger. 2014. Environmental conditions and habitat characteristics influence trap and video detection probabilities for reef fish species. Marine Ecology Progress Series 517: 1-14.
- Su B., D.A. Perera, Y. Zohar, E. Abraham, J. Stubblefield, M. Fobes, R. Beam, B. Argue, C. Ligeon, J. Padi, P. Waters, G. Umali-Maceina, N. Chatakondi, A. Kristanto, A. Hutson, C. Templeton, J. Ballenger, A. Chaimongkol, A. Gima, M. Gima, A. Zuberi, D.M. Lambert, S. Kim, M. Mandour, & R.A. Dunham. 2013. Relative effectiveness of carp pituitary extract, luteininzing hormone releasing hormone analog (LHRHa) injections and LHRHa implants for producing hybrid catfish fry. Aquaculture 372: 133-136.
- T. Lamkom, H. Kucuktas, Z.J. Liu, P. Li, U. Na-Nakorn, S. Klinbunga, A. Hutson, A. Chaimongkol, J. Ballenger, G. Umali, & R.A. Dunham. 2008. Microsatellite variation among domesticated populations of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and blue catfish (I. furcatus). Kasetsart University Fisheries Research Bulletin 32(2): 37-47.