GOMESA Application Details

1. Title of Project: Increasing Oyster Seed Production Through Workforce Development
2. Location of Project: Cedar Point research site, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, The University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs MS and Deer Island Oyster Aquaculture Park, Harrison County, MS.
3. Requesting Organization: The University of Southern Mississippi
4a. Name: T. Michelle Shows
4b. Position
4c. Phone Number: 601-266-4119
4d. Fax Number
4e. Address Line 1: 118 College Drive, #5157
4e. Address Line 2
4e. City, State Zip: Hattiesburg, MS
4f. Email: ORA-PAM@usm.edu
5. FundingRequested: $1,614,616
Awarded Amount:: $0
6. Other State or Federal Funding Sources: No
7a. Amount of Additional Funds: $0
7b. Source of Additional Funds
8. Total Project Funds Amount: $1,614,616
9. Project Description/Overview: This program will facilitate aquaculture workforce development which will, in turn, create and sustain jobs while providing a stable supply of safe, healthy, local seafood. By leveraging the expertise, infrastructure, and relationships of the University of Southern Mississippi's Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center (TCMAC) with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MSDMR), and the Gulf Shellfish Farmers Association (GSFA), this program will provide up to six training classes each year (Year 1-2) with up to 15 participants in each class, up to eight internships hosted by TCMAC (Year 2-3), up to four internships hosted by industry stakeholders (Year 2-3), and up to six spawning and larval culture runs each year using the OSH Mobile Hatchery (Years 1-3). The focus will be on educating and training individuals on the skill sets needed to grow the oyster aquaculture sector in Mississippi. The industry will be surveyed to finalize the list of class topics. Anticipated topics may include: 1. water quality monitoring and data management, 2. broodstock holding and conditioning, 3. spawning, 4.larval culture: counting, measuring and assessing larval health, 5. setting pediveligers for single seed production, and/or 6. grading and counting seed. At the conclusion of the classes, Standard Operating Procedures and Quick Reference Guides will be developed and distributed to class participants. The internships will be offered to further develop skills taught in the classes and to fill the immediate needs for a skilled workforce. The OSH Mobile Hatchery will provide hands-on training, insight, and the knowledge base needed to design, implement, and execute hatchery operations to produce pediveliger larvae. The pediveligers produced by the training runs will be distributed to MS industry. At the conclusion of the classes and internships, participants will be ready for hire by oyster aquaculture companies looking to scale or implement hatchery and/or nursery operations. Increasing the skilled workforce will, in turn, position companies to succeed in the production and distribution of seed, thus increasing the availability of seed. The increase of available seed will also facilitate the expansion and growth of grow-out operations.
10. Project Goals/Objectives: 1. Identify industry training needs by creating and administering a survey in collaboration with MDMR and GSFA to determine desirable skills and qualifications needed for hatchery and farm staff. 2. Design and plan classes/training courses and internships to suit the identified needs through collaborations with TCMAC, MSDMR, GSFA, and industry stakeholders. 3. Implement and execute classes/training courses in Years 1 and 2 (up to 6 classes per year). 4. Initiate and fill internship positions designed to further develop skill sets acquired in Years 1 and 2. 5. Produce standard operating procedures and quick reference guides for topics covered in the classes. 6. Identify industry participants for mobile hatchery training. 7. Implement and execute spawning and larval rearing training using the mobile hatchery. Year 1 (up to 3 runs), Years 2-3 (up to 6 runs).
11. Which of the following authorized uses set forth in the GOMESA Act does this project fall under?

(A) Projects and activities for the purpose of coastal protection, including conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetlands losses

(B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.: Yes: To alleviate the pressure on overexploited stocks and the pressure to overharvest stocks, aquaculture production must increase. Wild capture fisheries production has remained stagnant since the late 1980's and aquaculture has grown from supplying 10% of the demand for fisheries products to supplying over 50% today (FAO, 2018). The demand for seafood products is expected to grow more than 20% over the next 20 years (World Bank, 2013). This increased seafood demand cannot be met by increasing wild harvest as most stocks are being fished at or above the maximum sustainable yield (FAO, 2018). This project will increase the workforce that is needed to increase production of oysters.

(C) Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or conservation management plan.: Yes: This project addresses goals outlined in the federally approved "Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Comprehensive Plan, Restoring the Gulf Coast's Ecosystem and Economy. Declines in resources, environmental challenges and declining jobs not only impact the economy but also the cultural heritage of the maritime industry on the MS Gulf Coast. Aquaculture is a mechanism to impart resiliency and sustainability in the economy by diversifying seafood supply, creating jobs, and continuing the traditions of the maritime sector.

(D) Mitigation of the impact of Outer Continental Shelf activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects.

12. Project Timetable/Milestones: July 2025: Create survey to poll industry stakeholders, initiate acquiring mobile hatchery. August 2025: Poll industry stakeholders. Order materials for classes. Create class lesson plans and quick reference guides, advertise and fill class rosters. August - September 2025: Execute mobile hatchery training. September-November 2025: Execute classes. November 2025 - February 2026: Advertise and find industry stakeholders to host interns. Advertise and fill TCMAC and Industry intern positions for the 2026 Season. April- November 2026: Execute classes. April-December 2026: Execute internships. April-September 2026: Execute mobile hatchery training. November 2026 - February 2027: Advertise and find industry stakeholders to host interns. Advertise and fill TCMAC and Industry intern positions for the 2027 Season. April-September 2027: Execute mobile hatchery training. April- December 2027: Execute internships. January –June 2028: Demonstration of mobile hatchery, present at scientific conference. April-June 2028: Execute mobile hatchery training.
13. Project Timing: Short-term
14. Current status of architectural/engineering plans & specifications for this project (if applicable):: Other N/A Funds Not Budgeted

15. In what way does this project meet the goals and objectives of the Department of Marine Resources, which includes enhancing, protecting and conserving the marine interest of Mississippi for present and future generations?: July 2025: Create survey to poll industry stakeholders, initiate acquiring mobile hatchery. August 2025: Poll industry stakeholders. Order materials for classes. Create class lesson plans and quick reference guides, advertise and fill class rosters. August - September 2025: Execute mobile hatchery training. September-November 2025: Execute classes. November 2025 - February 2026: Advertise and find industry stakeholders to host interns. Advertise and fill TCMAC and Industry intern positions for the 2026 Season. April- November 2026: Execute classes. April-December 2026: Execute internships. April-September 2026: Execute mobile hatchery training. November 2026 - February 2027: Advertise and find industry stakeholders to host interns. Advertise and fill TCMAC and Industry intern positions for the 2027 Season. April-September 2027: Execute mobile hatchery training. April- December 2027: Execute internships. January –June 2028: Demonstration of mobile hatchery, present at scientific conference. April-June 2028: Execute mobile hatchery training.

16. Estimated Years To Completion: 3
17. Estimated Completion Date: 6/30/2028

Budget:

Salaries,Wages, Fringe: $664,580
Travel: $10,750
Architecture & Engineering: $0
Legal: $0
Consulting: $0
Construction: $0
Site Work: $0
Equipment: $361,000
Indirects: $378,588
Other: $198,671
Total: $1,613,589


Internal Project Number: 1322
Application Submission Date: 07/01/2024
Fiscal Year: 2026
Project Status
Application Status: Submitted
Meets Criteria
Internal Notes:

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