Reports - Mississippi Renewal

114 | AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY, AND MARINE RESOURCESThe Fertile Fisheries Crescent ishome to a wide variety ofestuarine-dependent species, andan area that also supports some ofthe nation’s most productiverecreational and commercialfisheries.Consortium has received a grantto coordinate the development ofan adaptable estuarine habitat restorationplan which will describeand prioritize restoration sites. TheMississippi Department of MarineResources should take the lead inacquiring funding for coastal preserves,acquisition, and managementby the public and private sectors.■ Mississippi Department of MarineResources will coordinate the utilizationof bridge rubble from the Biloxi-OceanSprings and Bay St. Louisbridges to create reefs, erosion control,and wave attenuation structures.The Commission recommends thatthe Mississippi Legislature coordinatethe following three long-term restorationefforts, including:■ Restoring the Pearl River and tributariesfrom Jackson to MississippiSound; the Pascagoula drainage basinto Mississippi Sound; and otherMississippi Rivers and coastal watershedsto the Sound;■ Using the Mississippi Coastal AreaRestoration Initiative for restorationof mainland coastal marshesand beaches, including an estimated1,890 acres of coastal marshes andforests that were severely damagedor destroyed;■ Using the Mississippi and LouisianaCoastal Studies to guide theimplementation of water and siltdiversions, reduction in saltwaterintrusions, fisheries infrastructurerestoration, and related projects.Improving Living Marine ResourcesThe Mississippi Sound and the adjoiningwaters of the open Gulf ofMexico lie in an area long known byfisheries biologists as the Fertile FisheriesCrescent. Home to a wide varietyof estuarine-dependent species, the areaalso supports some of the nation’s mostproductive recreational and commercialfisheries. Specific Commission recommendationsto improve living marineresources, estimated to cost $1.84 billion,include:■ Rebuilding Oyster Reefs. Based onpreliminary resource surveys, over11,500 acres of productive oysterreef areas suffered extensive damagewith estimated mortalities rangingfrom 90-95 percent as a resultof silting, sediment deposition, andscouring from the waves generatedby Hurricane Katrina. The Commissionrecommends revitalizingreefs through a combination ofcultch deposition and turning overcovered oysters to restore these reefsto their former productivity levels.The Mississippi Department ofMarine Resources should take thelead in coordinating with the oysterindustry the rebuilding and creationof new oyster reefs using funds fromNOAA’s National Marine FisheriesService, the NOAA RestorationCenter, the Department of Transportation,U.S. Fish and WildlifeService, and state sources.■ Restoring Artificial Reefs. Mississippi’sinshore and offshore artificialreefs were extensively damaged bythe hurricane. The program createdartificial fishery habitat by placingderelict vessels, concrete rubbleand other structures at specific locationsin federal waters offshorefrom the state. The areas providedhabitat for numerous recreationaland commercial fish with an annualeconomic impact of approximately$80 million. They must be restored.Mississippi Department of MarineResources should take the lead incoordinating with the sportfishingindustry the rebuilding of artificialreefs using funds from NOAA’s NationalMarine Fisheries Service, theNOAA Restoration Center, TheDepartment of Transportation, U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service, state andlocal sportfishing organizations.■ Rebuilding the Sea Trout Hatchery.Mississippi’s spotted sea trout hatchery,a joint venture of the MississippiDepartment of Marine Resourcesand University of Southern Mississippi’sGulf Coast Research Laboratory,was completely destroyedby Hurricane Katrina and must berebuilt. The Mississippi Departmentof Marine Resources should takethe lead in coordinating with thesportfishing industry the rebuild-