MASGC Project Impacts

FISHES course increases participants’ knowledge of fisheries management, science and sustainability and modifies some of their practices

Relevance:

MASGC-supported specialists possess valuable knowledge of fisheries-related topics. These specialists recognized a need to effectively communicate information regarding fisheries management, fisheries science and sustainability to fishermen and fish enthusiasts (such as teachers) in the north-central Gulf of Mexico region.

Response:

MASGC specialists offered the second annual (2022) "FISHES: Fishermen Invested in Science, Healthy Ecosystems, and Sustainability" course, which extends information about fisheries management, fisheries science and sustainability in a straightforward format. The course included five classroom sessions and one field excursion. Recreational and charter-for-hire fishermen, teachers and fish enthusiasts enrolled in and completed the course. MASGC specialists also surveyed students from the inaugural (2021) FISHES course 1 year later to evaluate the course's impact.

Results:

All 2022 FISHES course students (16) reported that their knowledge increased due to the course. Notably, five students who completed the 2021 FISHES course stated that they have modified their practices as a result of knowledge gained from the course. This included changing the way they catch fish to lessen stress and improve survivability (recreational sector), increasing involvement in conservation organizations (recreational sector), and encouraging clients to release some legal-size fish (charter-for-hire sector).

Recap:

Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium-supported extension specialists offered the 2022 "FISHES: Fishermen Invested in Science, Healthy Ecosystems, and Sustainability" course, and all students improved their knowledge of fisheries management, fisheries science and sustainability as a result of the course and some changed their practices due to the class. (2022)

Sea Grant-trained master naturalists provide 4,034 volunteer hours, improve 4,790 acres

Relevance:

Lack of environmental knowledge often promotes poor stewardship of natural resources.  Additionally, many environmentally conscious individuals are eager to provide volunteer service, but these opportunities are often difficult to find. 

Response:

The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant-supported Mississippi Master Naturalist Program was formed with the mission of developing an organization of knowledgeable volunteers to help promote conservation and management of Mississippi's natural resources through education, outreach and service within their communities. Master Naturalists must complete a 40-hour course of field and classroom instruction. They must also complete 8 hours of advanced training and 40 hours of volunteer service each year. 

Results:

The Mississippi Master Naturalist Program certified 17 new Master Naturalists. Active participants (about 200) documented 4,034 volunteer service hours valued at $120,818. Through these volunteer hours, participants reached or educated more than 8,413 people and improved 4,790 acres through stewardship activities.

Recap:

During the past year the Mississippi Master Naturalist Program increased awareness of environmental issues in Mississippi and Alabama, provided 4,034 volunteer service hours (valued at $120,818), educated 8,413 people and improved 4,790 acres during this reporting period. (2022)

Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant living shorelines outreach efforts lead to protection of over 6.4 miles of shoreline

Relevance:

Erosion is a common issue for most shoreline property owners and resource managers. To combat erosion, property owners often harden their shorelines with bulkheads or seawalls. While these methods are somewhat effective at reducing erosion, they also are associated with continual maintenance and a loss of intertidal habitat. This intertidal habitat is extremely important for producing the ecosystem functions and services necessary to maintain a healthy coastal ecosystem. 

Response:

The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium's Living Shorelines Program seeks out and evaluates alternatives to hardened shorelines, such as living shorelines, for environmental and economic benefits. This program gathers information to produce outreach materials for a range of stakeholders, such as environmental managers, contractors and property owners, about the pros and cons of different methodologies. During this reporting period, the program provided 94 presentations, routine site visits and 25 publications on improving the effectiveness and ease of implementing living shorelines. 

Results:

Extension specialists informed decision-making on protection, restoration or enhancement of more than 6.4 linear miles of shoreline in Mississippi and Alabama. Their efforts led to protecting about 48 acres with an annual ecosystem service value approaching $3.2 million (based on ecosystem service values from Costanza et al. 2014).

Recap:

Living shorelines education and extension efforts led to the protection of 48 acres of marine habitat that included more than 6.4 miles of shoreline and has an annual ecosystem service value approaching $3.2 million. (2022)

The Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program removes 68 tons of marine debris

Relevance:

Litter is an issue that impairs the environment, stormwater infrastructure, tourism and industry along coastlines. A Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant-funded extension specialist lead the coordination and training duties for the long-running Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program with the mission of preventing and removing litter from the coastal environment through education, outreach, research and cleanup events. 

Response:

The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant-supported Mississippi Coastal Cleanup organized or facilitated 62 cleanup events.

Results:

The 2022 cleanup events attracted 2,337 volunteers who contributed 4,674 volunteer hours and removed 67.73 tons of litter, which carries a conservative annual ecosystem service impact of $223,509.  Volunteers also collected data on the types of litter to identify sources and design targeted prevention methods, a value that exceeded $139,986.

Recap:

The Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program, coordinated by a Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant extension specialist, removed over 67.73 tons of litter from the coastal environment while educating more than 2,337 youth and adult volunteers about marine debris. (2022)

Volunteers in Alabama produce over 86,000 oysters for restoration

Relevance:

Oyster habitat in estuarine ecosystems has declined over the past century. Freshwater inputs from recent historic flooding have caused a more rapid decline.

Response:

In Alabama, professionals with the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium worked alongside 180 volunteers to establish 90 oyster gardening sites in coastal areas. Stakeholders and volunteers participated in the care requirements for producing oysters used for local restoration purposes.

Results:

In 2022, 180 volunteers produced 86,000 oysters which have the restorative potential of 4.26 acres and an economic value of $107,305 (2022 dollars). Combined with the value from volunteer efforts in the program, the overall estimated value to Alabama was calculated to be $195,358.

Recap:

Professionals with the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium worked alongside 180 volunteers in coastal Alabama to produce more than 86,000 oysters for local restoration purposes. (2022)

Sea Grant-developed inventory continues to be used to inform prioritization of restoration projects throughout the Gulf of Mexico

Relevance:

Hydrologic barriers to the natural flow of coastal waters has adversely impacted coastal fisheries and communities throughout the Gulf of Mexico. With advanced technology and new approaches the natural flow of coastal areas can be restored and enhance the ecosystem.

Response:

The four Gulf of Mexico Sea Grant college programs collaborated with the NOAA Restoration Center on a community-based restoration program, which concluded in 2014. Part of this project included Sea Grant extension professionals working with local communities and restoration experts to identify hydrological restoration sites throughout the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf programs developed an inventory of the sites and shared it broadly. The results of the project, including the inventory, are located here: http://masgc.org/hydrorestoration.

Results:

Resource managers used the inventory to identify and fund restoration using RESTORE funding. Approximately $2.17M was initially allocated to NOAA to plan restoration of three inventory projects. Since then one project, Robinson Preserve, was funded and completed, which restored 118 acres. Now, because of the inventory two hydrological restoration projects have been identified for funding totaling almost $131M and will reduce the loss or restore more than 45,000 acres in Texas and Louisiana.

Recap:

The network of Sea Grant extension professionals in the Gulf of Mexico was able to build an inventory of sites that required hydrologic restoration and was used by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to identify, prioritize and select for funding two new projects during this reporting period ($1M restoration project in Texas restoring 600 acres of aquatic habitat and $130M restoration project in Louisiana to enhance or reduce future loss of 45,000 acres). (2022)