GOMESA Application Details
- Internal Project Number
- 271335
- 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
- Erica Kennedy
- 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, Mississippi
- 4f. Email
- ORA-PAM@usm.edu
- 5. FundingRequested
- $709,869
- Awarded Amount:
- 6. Other State or Federal Funding Sources
- No
- 7a. Amount of Additional Funds
- 7b. Source of Additional Funds
- 8. Total Project Funds Amount
- $709,869
- 9. Project Description/Overview
- This project proposes to continue the independent scientific and management efforts that have been conducted annually by USM's 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 this proposal are: MISSISSIPPI STOCK ASSESSMENT – Compile data and conduct a stock assessment on the species of MDMR request, to aid in enhanced management of coastal finfish. FISHERY TRAWL MONITORING – This long-term monitoring trawl effort is in place to support species-specific and ecosystem level assessments and track species/population variability in Mississippi Sound waters. FISHERY ACOUSTIC TELEMETRY – USM and MDMR have established an acoustic array in Mississippi waters. This array allows for monitoring of movement patterns, habitat utilization and population connectivity of target fish species. REEF FISH VIDEO MONITORING – This video recording survey will target important reef sites in the Mississippi Bight following GFisher protocols. Resultant video will be assessed for species and max n. EDUCATIONAL VIDEO: SAFE FISH HANDLING – Short videos will be developed to educate the public on safe handling, tagging, and release efforts of coastal species, as well as to educate the public on how ethical fishing activities can enhance the sustainability of our sport fish species.
- 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 routine trawl sampling in the Mississippi Sound and adjacent waters 2) Provide catch data to MDMR REEF FISH VIDEO MONITORING 1) Coordinate a sampling universe and frequency with MDMR 2) Conduct the video recording survey 3) Read the resultant video 4) Provide data to MDMR FISHERY ACOUSTIC TELEMETRY 1) Maintain the established acoustic array 2) Provide download data to the Andres lab EDUCATIONAL VIDEO: SAFE FISH HANDLING 1) Develop short educational videos 2) Provide to MDMR for social media or web posting
- 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: Discuss current array placement and potential shift in scope Months 1-12: Routine maintain deployed array and download data Month 12: Submit downloaded data to Andres lab EDUCATIONAL VIDEO: SAFE FISH HANDLING Months 1-2: Meet with visual team to plan videos Months 2-6: Conduct vessel time to obtain clips Months 2-8: Generate digital media and voice overs Months 8-11: Compile and finalize production Month 12: Offer videos for posting
- 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 proposes to continue the independent scientific and management efforts that have been conducted annually by USM's 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 this proposal are: MISSISSIPPI STOCK ASSESSMENT – Compile data and conduct a stock assessment on the species of MDMR request, to aid in enhanced management of coastal finfish. FISHERY TRAWL MONITORING – This long-term monitoring trawl effort is in place to support species-specific and ecosystem level assessments and track species/population variability in Mississippi Sound waters. FISHERY ACOUSTIC TELEMETRY – USM and MDMR have established an acoustic array in Mississippi waters. This array allows for monitoring of movement patterns, habitat utilization and population connectivity of target fish species. REEF FISH VIDEO MONITORING – This video recording survey will target important reef sites in the Mississippi Bight following GFisher protocols. Resultant video will be assessed for species and max n. EDUCATIONAL VIDEO: SAFE FISH HANDLING – Short videos will be developed to educate the public on safe handling, tagging, and release efforts of coastal species, as well as to educate the public on how ethical fishing activities can enhance the sustainability of our sport fish species.
- 16. Estimated Years To Completion
- 1
- 17. Estimated Completion Date
- 6/30/2027
- Budget:
- Salaries,Wages, Fringe
- $387,636
- Travel
- $7,010
- Architecture & Engineering
- Legal
- Consulting
- Construction
- Site Work
- Equipment
- Indirects
- $214,873
- Other
- $100,350
- Total
- $709,869
- Application Submission Date
- 07/14/2025
- Fiscal Year
- 2027
- Project Status
- Application Status
- Submitted
- Meets Criteria
- Internal Notes:
- Attachments:
- https://gomesa_internal/attachments/GOMESA_1335_COMPLETE.pdf
- Hyperlink:
- Attachments