GOMESA Application Details
- 1. Title of Project
- Mississippi Oyster Restoration & Enhancement Project
- 2. Location of Project
- Mississippi Sound, waters of the State of Mississippi
- 3. Requesting Organization
- MDMR
- 4a. Name
- Jason Rider
- 4b. Position
- Shellfish Bureau Director
- 4c. Phone Number
- 228-523-4037
- 4d. Fax Number
- 228-374-5220
- 4e. Address Line 1
- 1141 Bayview Ave
- 4e. Address Line 2
- 4e. City, State Zip
- Biloxi, MS 39530
- 4f. Email
- jason.rider@gmail.com
- 5. FundingRequested
- $1,000,000
- Awarded Amount:
- $1,000,000
- 6. Other State or Federal Funding Sources
- No
- 7a. Amount of Additional Funds
- $0
- 7b. Source of Additional Funds
- 8. Total Project Funds Amount
- $1,000,000
- 9. Project Description/Overview
- This project would restore and enhance the state owned oyster reefs of the State of Mississippi and increase spat recruitment on the private oyster leases through placement of cultch materials and other innovative oyster restoration and enhancement techniques. Cultch replacement and replenishment is a critical component of sustaining healthy oyster populations in Mississippi, especially given the recent environmental disasters that have impacted oyster resources in the State. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources proposes to implement a large-scale oyster restoration and enhancement project with the assistance of a private contractor to provide and deploy cultch materials in areas identified by MDMR as suitable oyster habitat. MDMR managers have identified thousands of acres of suitable habitat within the State waters of the MS Sound. Upon completion, this project will restore and enhance over 300 acres of oyster habitat.
- 10. Project Goals/Objectives
- To restore approximately 300 acres of oyster reef and produce upwards of 30 million live oysters on the state owned oyster reefs. MDMR Fisheries staff, will assess the project area and identify the most suitable site(s) for oyster restoration and creation. Primary project objectives include: 1) Acquisition of cultch material. 2) Oyster restoration site identification. 3) Deployment of cultch materials/other oyster restoration methods. 4) Assessment of oyster growth, health, and effectiveness of cultch material or other restoration methodology.
- 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 proposes to restore, create, and increase oyster reefs in the MS Sound that have experienced negative impacts of man-made and natural disasters over the past 20 years. The project will improve essential fish habitat which plays a major role in the restoration of recreationally and commercially important finfish and invertebrate species. With the deployment of cultch material, the enhanced oyster reefs would also re-establish a natural physical barrier for hurricane protection that the historical reefs once provided. Restoration of historical oyster reefs in the Mississippi Sound is also critical to the protection and stabilization of multiple shoreline types including the Harrison and Hancock County beaches.
- (B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.
- Yes: This project proposes to restore, create, and increase the area of oyster reefs in the MS Sound that has experienced man-made and natural disasters over the past 20 years. The deployment of cultch material on the oyster reefs which will provide the following benefits :1) Increase production of oysters in the Mississippi Sound 2) Provide ecosystem services by enhancing essential fish habitat for inshore species and improve local stocks of recreationally important species to ultimately improve fishing 3) Provide habitat for species critical to the success of Mississippi's 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 1 year for implantation. MDMR Fisheries staff, will assess the project area and identify the most suitable site(s) for oyster restoration and creation. Primary Milestones include: 1) Acquisition of cultch material. 2) Oyster restoration site identification. 3) Deployment of cultch materials/other oyster restoration methods. 4) Assessment of oyster growth, health, and effectiveness of cultch material or other restoration methodology.
- 13. Project Timing
- Short-term
- 14. Current status of architectural/engineering plans & specifications for this project (if applicable):
- NA
- 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 will provide coastal protection by increasing shoreline stabilization, restore oyster resources and provide increased habitat for a variety of marine species, mitigate losses of historical oyster reef habitat, and implement oyster restoration initiatives that are widely supported on the national scale. This project enhances public oyster resources, protects the public's right to have and enjoy those valuable resources, and conserves and promotes the natural resources.
- 16. Estimated Years To Completion
- 1
- 17. Estimated Completion Date
- 6/30/2025
- Budget:
- Salaries,Wages, Fringe
- $0
- Travel
- $0
- Architecture & Engineering
- $0
- Legal
- $0
- Consulting
- $0
- Construction
- $0
- Site Work
- $0
- Equipment
- $0
- Indirects
- $0
- Other
- $1,000,000
- Total
- $1,000,000
- Internal Project Number
- 2025029
- Application Submission Date
- 12/06/2023
- Fiscal Year
- 2025
- Project Status
- Awarded
- Application Status
- Accepted
- Meets Criteria
- Yes
- Internal Notes:
- 1783-cc