21-16-CWS | April 27, 2021
BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) is seeking public comments from stakeholders on the draft document, “Oyster Management and Recovery Strategic Plan.” The document can be viewed, and public comments submitted, at dmr.ms.gov/oyster-plan. Comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on May 31, 2021.
Over the past decade, Mississippi’s oyster resource has seen a substantial decline largely due to several natural and man-made disasters. The Oyster Management and Recovery Strategic Plan summarizes projects proposed by the MDMR Office of Marine Fisheries Shellfish Bureau and identifies how each project will benefit the resource or environment. Projects are separated into three categories: active projects, future funded projects and future unfunded projects.
The MDMR Shellfish Bureau is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving the oyster resources of the Mississippi Sound. MDMR has many goals and objectives, which include, working to increase harvestable oyster resources on public reefs and improving resiliency and adaptive management techniques to allow stakeholders and the resource to better withstand environmental and man-made stressors. The agency also strives to improve water quality monitoring throughout the Mississippi Sound to recognize the quickly changing environmental conditions affecting the oyster fishery and enhancing participation for on-bottom and off-bottom private-sector oyster production and harvest.
All comments may be submitted by email to oyster@dmr.ms.gov or online at dmr.ms.gov/oyster-plan. Comments must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on May 31, 2021.
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.
