GOMESA Application Details
- Internal Project Number
- 271367
- 1. Title of Project
- Direct Oyster Larval Setting for Accelerated Reef Restoration in Mississippi Sound
- 2. Location of Project
- MDMR owned inshore artificial reef sites
- 3. Requesting Organization
- Callie Mae Sea Foundation
- 4a. Name
- Virginia Schweiss
- 4b. Position
- 4c. Phone Number
- 228-806-8604
- 4d. Fax Number
- 4e. Address Line 1
- 14199 Oakview Circle
- 4e. Address Line 2
- 4e. City, State Zip
- Ocean Springs, Mississippi
- 4f. Email
- ginger.schweiss@calliemaeseafoundation.org
- 5. FundingRequested
- $1,370,000
- 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
- $1,370,000
- 9. Project Description/Overview
- Building on the Callie Mae Sea Foundation's successful demonstration of direct oyster larvae setting at Shearwater Reef under a MDMR Scientific Research Permit, this project will restore and enhance state-owned oyster reefs throughout the Mississippi Sound using a strategic deployment of a total of 225 million pediveligers on top of newly placed substrate at 15 reef sites. The project will coordinate with MDMR's Artificial Reef Bureau's planned 2026 substrate deployment across 64 inshore subtidal artificial reef locations, deploying hatchery-produced larvae onto prepared substrate to accelerate reef establishment at rates faster than natural recruitment alone. This two-phase initiative will first deploy pediveligers on reef sites selected for optimal salinity, current, water quality, and substrate conditions, with monthly monitoring throughout 2026 to assess settlement success, survival rates, oyster density, and growth. The second phase will develop and field-test deployment technologies from late 2026 through mid-2027, with each technology-deployed plot monitored for one full year post-deployment to refine methods for future large-scale application. This approach is intended to restore decimated oyster reefs at an accelerated rate, directly supporting Mississippi's commercial oyster industry recovery, while providing critical ecosystem services including water quality improvement, essential fish habitat enhancement, and shoreline stabilization. Timeliness of this project is key as the state continues oyster restoration efforts. The project builds upon proven pilot project success and leverages state infrastructure investments to maximize restoration effectiveness and cost-efficiency.
- 10. Project Goals/Objectives
- To restore approximately 60 acres of oyster reef habitat through deployment of approximately 225 million pediveligers on state-owned oyster reefs in the Mississippi Sound. CMSF staff, in coordination with MDMR Artificial Reef Bureau, will assess the project area and identify the most suitable sites for oyster restoration across 15 reef locations. Primary project objectives include: 1. Site identification and larval deployment coordination with MDMR's 2026 substrate placement program 2. Deployment of pediveligers on newly placed cultch material 3. Assessment of oyster settlement, growth, health, and survival across deployment sites 4. Development and testing of enhanced deployment technologies for future restoration scalability
- 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: Yes: This project will enhance essential fish habitat which plays a major role in the restoration of recreationally and commercially important finfish and invertebrate species in the Mississippi Sound. With the deployment of pediveligers on newly placed reef material, the restored oyster reefs will re-establish a natural physical barrier for hurricane protection that historical reefs once provided. Restoration of oyster reefs in the Mississippi Sound is critical to the protection and stabilization of multiple shoreline types including coastal areas in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties that have been impacted by wetland losses and coastal erosion.
- (B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.
- Yes: Yes: This project proposes to restore oyster reefs in the Mississippi Sound, which has experienced man-made and natural disasters over the past 20 years, including Hurricane Katrina, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and repeated Bonnet Carré Spillway openings, utilizing direct larval deployment techniques that accelerate oyster population recovery. This project will provide the following benefits: 1) Increase production of oysters in the Mississippi Sound to support commercial harvest recovery 2) Provide ecosystem services by enhancing essential fish habitat for inshore species and improve local stocks of recreational species, and 3) Provide habitat for species critical to the success of Mississippi coastal wetlands.
- (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
- This project is estimated to take approximately 2 years for implementation. CMSF staff, in coordination with MDMR Artificial Reef Bureau, will assess project areas and identify the most suitable sites for oyster restoration based on substrate placement schedules and environmental conditions. Primary Milestones include: Phase 1 (2026): 1) Site identification and coordination with MDMR's 2026 substrate deployment program (Q1 2026) 2) Deployment of pediveligers on newly placed cultch material across 15 reef locations (Q2-Q3 2026) 3) Monthly monitoring and assessment of oyster settlement, growth, health, and survival rates (Q2 2026 through Q1 2027) Phase 2 (Late 2026-Mid 2027): 4) Development, testing, and validation of enhanced deployment technologies with 12-month monitoring of technology-deployed plots (Q4 2026 through Q2 2027)
- 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?
- Restoration and enhancement of oyster reefs through direct larval deployment will provide coastal protection by increasing shoreline stabilization, restore depleted oyster resources to support commercial harvest recovery, and provide increased habitat for a variety of marine species including recreational and commercially important finfish. This project mitigates losses of historical oyster reef habitat caused by Hurricane Katrina, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and Bonnet Carré Spillway openings, and develops innovative oyster restoration techniques that build upon proven pilot project success. This project enhances public oyster resources, protects the public's right to have and enjoy those valuable resources, supports Mississippi's coastal communities and oyster industry, and conserves and promotes the natural resources of the Mississippi Sound for present and future generations.
- 16. Estimated Years To Completion
- 3
- 17. Estimated Completion Date
- 12/31/2028
- Budget:
- Salaries,Wages, Fringe
- Travel
- Architecture & Engineering
- $350,000
- Legal
- Consulting
- $80,000
- Construction
- Site Work
- $160,000
- Equipment
- $230,000
- Indirects
- Other
- $550,000
- Total
- $1,370,000
- Application Submission Date
- 09/30/2025
- Fiscal Year
- 2027
- Project Status
- Application Status
- Submitted
- Meets Criteria
- Internal Notes:
- Attachments:
- https://gomesa_internal/attachments/GOMESA_1367_COMPLETE.pdf
- Hyperlink:
- Attachments