Amanda Jargowsky
Mississippi State University
Back to Projects
Status: Past
Type:
Project Leaders
Project Date Range: 02-01-2022 to 01-31-2025
Keywords: certification program, FISHES, fisheries management, fisheries science, fisheries sustainability, course
Objectives
Educate fish enthusiasts about fisheries management, fisheries science and sustainability. Enable fish enthusiasts to become more involved in fisheries management fisheries science and sustainability efforts.
Methodology
The investigators will offer an annual in-person FISHES certification course. To attain FISHES certification an individual must attend the FISHES certification course which consists of 20 hours of in-depth training in fisheries management fisheries science and sustainability via required reading classroom sessions and a field excursion. The classroom sessions will take place in coastal Mississippi and the field excursion will occur in coastal Alabama. The FISHES certification course will be open to fish enthusiasts ages 18 and up from Mississippi or Alabama.
Rationale
Practical science-based information about fisheries management fisheries science and sustainability specific to the northern Gulf of Mexico can be difficult to locate and understand. Moreover insufficient knowledge of these topics often decreases stakeholder trust in the management process which increases conflict between stakeholders and managers and negatively impacts sustainability initiatives. Therefore the FISHES: Fishermen Invested in Science Healthy Ecosystems and Sustainability certification course which includes an accompanying electronically available textbook was designed to inform northern Gulf of Mexico fish enthusiasts (recreational and commercial fishermen and other stakeholders) about fisheries management fisheries science and sustainability via user-friendly formats.