BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources this week began a program to rebuild and revitalize oyster reefs in the western Mississippi Sound.
Employees and contractors started a multi-phase project to plant 350 acres of cultch material on several reefs over the next few weeks.
“The purpose of this project is to restore Mississippi’s oyster reefs and increase future production,” said Erik Broussard, assistant director of MDMR’s Shellfish Bureau. “We will do an additional planting in the fall and next spring to continue restoration efforts.”
The reefs included in this phase are Pass Christian, Henderson Point, Pass Marianne, St. Joe and Waveland.
Broussard asked that fishermen with crab traps in these areas move them until the cultch planting is complete.
Photos courtesy MS Department of Marine Resources
MDMR contractors and employees are planting 350 acres of cultch material on oyster reefs in the western portion of the Mississippi Sound to restore the reefs.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the DMR online at dmr.ms.gov.
Source: Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
