GOMESA Application Details

1. Title of Project: Mississippi Coastal Fishery Resource Assessment Program
2. Location of Project: Jackson, Harrison, and Hancock Counties 703 East Beach Drive Ocean Springs, MS
3. Requesting Organization: University of Southern Mississippi
4a. Name: 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: $747,197
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: $747,197
9. Project Description/Overview: This project, Mississippi Coastal Fishery Resource Assessment Program, proposes to continue the independent scientific and management efforts that have been conducted annually for decades by The University of Southern Mississippi Center for Fisheries Research and Development. These efforts are all coordinated and requested by the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and are essential for the effective management of Mississippi's coastal fisheries. Specific components of the proposed Mississippi Coastal Fishery Resource Assessment Program are: Mississippi Stock Assessment Panel, Fisheries Trawl Monitoring, Reef Fish Video Monitoring, and Fishery Acoustic Telemetry. The MS Stock Assessment panel is an established joint effort between MDMR and USM to conduct stock assessments and make recommendations in support of effective management of coastal finfish resources. The Fisheries Trawl Monitoring will continue the historical survey that monitors species. Reef Fish Video Monitoring will aid the State in monitoring the offshore management sites. Fishery Acoustic Telemetry program includes tagging targeted species and will continue the maintenance of the established acoustic telemetry array to monitor habitat use, movement patterns, and population connectivity of species of interest.
10. Project Goals/Objectives: MISSISSIPPI STOCK ASSESSMENT PANEL 1) Combine and coordinate data for assessment of species of MDMR interest 2) Conduct an assessment of the stock of interest 3) Provide MDMR with management scenarios as well as research recommendations to improve future assessments FISHERY TRAWL MONITORING 1) Conduct trawl sampling in the Mississippi Sound and adjacent waters to continue continuity of this long-term monitoring project REEF FISH VIDEO MONITORING 1) Coordinate in the establishment of a reef fish video monitoring program to aid in the management of Mississippi's marine resources FISHERY ACOUSTIC TELEMETRY 1) Maintain the established acoustic array 2) Tag target species as prioritized by MDMR 2) Investigate temporal and spatial movements of tagged fishes
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: Yes: This project has and will continue to provide MDMR with the data that is essential to make effective management decisions. We have worked in collaboration with MDMR for decades to target and collect the data needed to set fishing limits that will ensure the conservation of Mississippi’s fisheries resources.

(B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.: Yes: The proposed project components directly address mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources. These projects will continue to provide the necessary data to ensure sustainability of Mississippi natural resources. They will also provide a means to analyze the impacts to marine resources from environmental and anthropogenic factors when/if they occur.

(C) Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or conservation management plan.

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

12. Project Timetable/Milestones: The following timetable/milestones will be conducted for each project year. Each project component is listed: MISSISSIPPI STOCK ASSESSMENT PANEL Month 1-2: Identify stocks in need of assessment, in collaboration with the MDMR Months 4-6: Evaluate the scientific data available and identify data gaps in the indices of relative abundance and life-history information needed to complete a robust and defensible (to peer review) stock assessment Month 8: Address data inadequacies and recommend protocols and methods to address them Month 11-12: Evaluate current assessment models used for understanding the stock under consideration Month 12: Conduct assessments and present results to MDMR Month 12: Provide MDMR with management scenarios as well as research recommendations for future assessments FISHERY TRAWL MONITORING Months 1-2: Order necessary gear and prepare equipment for sampling; train technicians Months 1-12: Conduct sampling efforts Months 6-11: QA/QC data, combine data with previous project years, conduct analysis Months 11-12: Submit final project report REEF FISH VIDEO MONITORING Month 1-3: Calibrate video pod, finalize protocols, conduct trial sea day Months 3-10: Conduct survey based on protocol, read videos from survey, QAQC Months 10-12: Analyze data and submit final report FISHERY ACOUSTIC RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT Month 1: Order gear and generate anchor system; maintain current array Months 2-10: Tag 30 of the target species from the Mississippi Sound Months 3-12: Download data from the receiver array and conduct analysis to determine seasonal movement dynamics of tagged fishes and their habitat associations Month 12: Submit final project report
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?: This project reflects routine efforts that the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources has requested from our unit. The Center for Fisheries Research & Development has collaborated with the MDMR to provide this information, critical for management, for decades. This innovative research allows for effective limits to be set to ensure sustainable and productive fisheries, which support our local community and economy. MISSISSIPPI STOCK ASSESSMENT PANEL – Investment in improved data sources and stock assessments routinely returns a high yield on investment, as constraints on quotas, seasons and bag limits primarily come from precautionary-or misinformed-management as an outcome of inadequate data and assessment resources. Deliverables will include peer-reviewed assessments of the MDMR-identified fishery stocks, including details on assessment construction, documentation and results and evaluation of peer-review comments. FISHERY TRAWL MONITORING – Stock assessments and other fishery management criteria rely on research and monitoring data to populate assessment tools and identify regulatory triggers for certain fisheries (e.g., opening of shrimp season). This component of the Program will support continuation of long-term monitoring necessary for such management actions. Monthly sampling will support species-specific and ecosystem assessments and serve as a source of baseline data for future Bonnet Carré Spillway opening damage assessments. REEF FISH VIDEO MONITORING – This project collects critical reef fish data to help monitor the State's resources and inform the State on the effects of the fishery. MDMR maintains offshore reefs that are subject to high fishing pressure. The monitoring conducted by this project will allow MDMR to efficiently manage Mississippi's resources at these reefs. FISHERY ACOUSTIC TELEMETRY – USM and MDMR have established an acoustic array in Mississippi waters. Acoustic technology is particularly applicable to fishery projects focused on movement patterns, habitat utilization and population connectivity, each of which is a key consideration for management. This project will serve to inform the local management of marine teleosts in local waters and benefit efforts working toward greater understanding and sustainable management of Mississippi's marine resources.

16. Estimated Years To Completion: 1
17. Estimated Completion Date: 8/31/2026

Budget:

Salaries,Wages, Fringe: $336,178
Travel: $14,728
Architecture & Engineering: $0
Legal: $0
Consulting: $0
Construction: $0
Site Work: $0
Equipment: $0
Indirects: $212,591
Other: $183,700
Total: $747,197


Internal Project Number: 1298
Application Submission Date: 06/28/2024
Fiscal Year: 2026
Project Status
Application Status: Submitted
Meets Criteria
Internal Notes:

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