GOMESA Application Details
- Internal Project Number
- 1177
- 1. Title of Project
- Aquatic Research Center - improvements, research, conservation, and hurricane support
- 2. Location of Project
- 72 E. Railroad Street Gulfport, MS Field research in the Mississippi Sound/Gulf of Mexico
- 3. Requesting Organization
- Aquatic Research Foundation (fundraising arm of Mississippi Aquarium for conservation projects)
- 4a. Name
- Kurt Allen
- 4b. Position
- 4c. Phone Number
- 228-241-1202
- 4d. Fax Number
- 4e. Address Line 1
- 2100 East Beach Blvd.
- 4e. Address Line 2
- 4e. City, State Zip
- Gulfport, MS 39501
- 4f. Email
- kallen@msaquarium.org
- 5. FundingRequested
- $2,884,125
- Awarded Amount:
- $0
- 6. Other State or Federal Funding Sources
- No
- 7a. Amount of Additional Funds
- 7b. Source of Additional Funds
- 8. Total Project Funds Amount
- $2,884,125
- 9. Project Description/Overview
- The center of this project is the Aquatic Research Center (ARC). The ARC building is a multipurpose facility that is used to provide hurricane evacuation for some of the animals (including dolphins) at Mississippi Aquarium, serves as the laboratory for field-based research projects including a functional water quality laboratory and veterinary hospital, provides temporary housing for animals involved in conservation projects, and acts as a satellite hospital for animals in need of medical care. By building ARC capacity and making improvements we will improve our ability to house animals during hurricanes, provide medical care for animals in need, provide enclosures for scientists to temporarily house animals during research trials, and support field research and conservation projects in and around the Gulf of Mexico. Research and conservation projects that are based out of the ARC will be highlighted to increase public awareness about the plight of the animals and water in the Gulf of Mexico. They will be discussed during international veterinary meetings, scientific research symposiums, private tours, and media. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and veterinary students will be involved in research and conservation projects. Ultimately the goal is to publish findings from scientific research projects in peer reviewed publications and further advance the understanding of the animals and environment of the Gulf of Mexico. Funding will be used to add additional enclosures, increase the number of aquatic systems, support the care and maintenance of the animals temporarily housed at ARC, ensure medical care, obtain supplies and run samples for research projects, purchase equipment needed for maintenance, create offices, and install HVAC in building to increase energy efficiency. Requested budgeted amount is a 3-year budget total.
- 10. Project Goals/Objectives
- 1. Install 40 ft round, 10 ft deep tank with individual filtration and decking to ensure proper dolphin holding during hurricane evacuation. Create 10-20 separate aquatic systems to be used for temporary housing for animals in need of medical treatment, animal holding for conservation and research projects, and quarantine of aquatic animals 2. Install HVAC in building to allow for even temperature control of aquatic systems and ultimately save on energy costs. Build out research scientists office space. 3. Provide staff to support animal holding, research, and conservation activities including: part time water quality technician, full time biologist, part time veterinary technician, part time veterinarian, part time life support technician, full time research technician, and full time research scientist. 4. Research projects to include: a. Water quality/animal surveys in Gulf of Mexico - using remotely operated vehicles measure salinity, temperature, alkalinity, pH, dissolved oxygen in various parts of Gulf of Mexico - correlate changes in water quality with man-made influences ex. opening of Spillway and with weather events ex. hurricanes, use remote SONAR and hydrophones to correlate presence of animals in Gulf of Mexico with water quality parameters to determine animal presence and work toward evaluating abundance and health of the animals noted in specific areas b. Shark and ray health assessments – evaluate bloodwork, ultrasound, reproductive status, parasite load, presence of heavy metals, etc. in shark and ray species in the Gulf of Mexico. These animals act as sentinels for the health of the Gulf and can provide insight into the overall health of the Mississippi Sound and Gulf of Mexico c. Beach surveys at Cat Island – note abundance of horseshoe crabs, measure size of horseshoe crabs, and document seasonality of the presence of horseshoe crabs on Cat Island (MSAQ holds permit, see attached), use drones to survey the beach d. Offshore survey for sperm whales – charter boat for offshore survey to note presence of sperm whales and identify areas for future research e. Create opportunities for students (undergraduate and graduate students) to participate in field and laboratory research.
- 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: The research projects proposed will provide information that will help conserve species. Many shark and ray species are vulnerable and understanding their overall health status is imperative to understanding the overall health of the Gulf of Mexico. Horseshoe crabs are listed as a vulnerable species and are found on Cat Island however, there is limited information on their usage of the islands. Hurricane protection of animals at Mississippi Aquarium will be directly impacted as they will have safe and secure enclosures to be evacuated to in the instance of storms. Furthermore, new aquatic systems at ARC may be used in conservation projects to temporarily house animals in need of medical care and to be used in research studies.
- (B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.
- Yes: Obtaining baseline water quality values and understanding how they change seasonally, how they change post hurricanes, and how they change during anthropogenic impacts (ex. oil spills, opening of spillways, pollution) while correlating the presence/absence of animals in certain areas of the Gulf will provide information that can be used in management decisions and elucidate areas of the Gulf and/or Mississippi Sound that are ideal sites for further research. Pilot study to identify pods of sperm whales will help identify areas of future study and can provide information for marine mammal conservation/protection plans.
- (C) Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or conservation management plan.
- Yes: Several species of sharks and rays that live in the Mississippi Sound (sawfish, manta ray, hammerheads) are protected by the US Endangered Species Act. While not directly assessing these particular sharks and rays in this project, understanding water quality, and using remote imaging to screen for their presence in certain areas will provide information that can be used in their respective conservation management plans. Additionally, by studying sharks and rays at lower trophic levels we can determine which toxins (ex. heavy metals, micro-plastics) may be most important to study in those endangered sharks at higher trophic levels.
- (D) Mitigation of the impact of Outer Continental Shelf activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects.
- 12. Project Timetable/Milestones
- Improvements to ARC including installing 40 ft round, 10 ft deep tank and creating separate aquatic systems would start immediately. Completion is expected to be within 1 year of receiving funds. Installation of HVAC and build out of research office space would go out for bid immediately. Completion is expected to be within 3 years of receiving funds. Water quality/animal surveys in Gulf of Mexico: Equipment necessary for this work would be purchased immediately. Sampling would occur on a regular basis, on pre-determined tracks. After one year the data will be compiled and evaluated to determine specific areas of interest. After three years of sampling a manuscript will be produced conveying the findings of the research. Shark and ray health assessments: upon receiving funding a permit would be submitted for approval. Upon receiving approval, research trips would begin to collect data. After 3 years at least 2 manuscripts would be produced and submitted for publication in peer reviewed journal. Beach surveys at Cat Island: Surveys are currently underway on a weekly basis. Upon receiving funding the surveys would continue for an entire calendar year. After one year the data will be evaluated and specific research questions will be identified. Any amendments necessary to the permit would be filed. After 3 years a manuscript will be produced and submitted for publication in a peer reviewed journal. Offshore survey for sperm whales: Planning would immediately start to schedule a research trip on the Point Sur. Post research trip data would be analyzed and areas for future research would be identified. Research trip and data analysis would take place within one year of receiving funding. Create opportunities for students: Students are currently shadowing biologists and veterinarians at the ARC. This activity will continue. Any new opportunities created for research will be offered to interested students. There are currently staff working at ARC ensuring water quality is adequate, the animals are cared for, and equipment is functioning properly. This will continue upon receiving funding. Requested budgeted amount is a 3-year budget total.
- 13. Project Timing
- Short-term
- 14. Current status of architectural/engineering plans & specifications for this project (if applicable):
- Ready to Bid 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 contributes to enhancing, protecting, and conserving the marine interests of Mississippi for future generations in multiple ways. First, the Mississippi Aquarium is a new attraction to the State of Mississippi and the Gulf Coast that highlights the story of Mississippi's aquatic resources. It is founded on three pillars: education, conservation, and community. These pillars directly align with the goals and objectives of the Department of Marine Resources. Mississippi Aquarium reached over 300,000 visitors in the first year of operation. In addition to the exhibits at Mississippi Aquarium, visitors can learn to appreciate aquatic life in Mississippi with outreach events, field trips, and special presentations. While the Aquarium itself is important, it can not exist to it's full potential without support from the ARC. The ARC is vital to the hurricane evacuation plans of Mississippi Aquarium as dolphins and other animals are moved there during a storm so that they may be protected. In addition, the ARC serves as the research, conservation, and quarantine facility for the aquarium. By putting resources into the ARC, Mississippi Aquarium biologists, veterinarians, and researchers are able to participate in and initiate meaningful conservation projects to help endangered animals and are able to perform field research to answer the many questions that remain for the animals and water of the Mississippi Sound. While there has been a great deal of research centered in and around the Mississippi Sound there is still much more to learn. Ocean health, animal health, and human health are intimately tied together. Studying the animals and water of the Mississippi Sound will provide information that will allow us to better protect the animals and provide insight into the overall health of the Sound. For example, high levels of heavy metals or micro-plastics in sharks indicates there could be an impact on human health. Research on water quality, animal abundance, and animal health provides important data to lawmakers to be used in conservation management plans. The findings of our research will be presented to Aquarium guests in a way that is easy for them to understand. The goal is to foster a sense of pride in the marine life of Mississippi and instill a passion for conserving aquatic life so that future generations can enjoy aquatic life in Mississippi. Ultimately, our research findings will be written and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journals. This is imperative so that policymakers and scientists can use evidence based in science to make informed conservation and policy decisions. Requested budgeted amount is a 3-year budget total.
- 16. Estimated Years To Completion
- 3
- 17. Estimated Completion Date
- 6/30/2027
- Budget:
- Salaries,Wages, Fringe
- $855,000
- Travel
- $0
- Architecture & Engineering
- $20,000
- Legal
- $0
- Consulting
- $165,000
- Construction
- $0
- Site Work
- $480,000
- Equipment
- $769,125
- Indirects
- $595,000
- Other
- $0
- Total
- $2,884,125
- Application Submission Date
- 06/30/2022
- Fiscal Year
- 2024
- Project Status
- Not Awarded
- Application Status
- Accepted
- Meets Criteria
- No
- Internal Notes:
- Attachments:
- Hyperlink:
- Attachments