Gulf of Mexico Marine Aquaculture Park
Mission
To develop and transfer technology for
- Management agencies
- Stock enhancement
- Commercial development of Gulf of Mexico marine species
Location
- Cedar Point site in Ocean Springs, Mississippi
- 224-acre property
- Bordered by Gulf Islands National Seashore and Davis Bayou
Facilities
- Six buildings completed or in progress including
- Office/support
- Maturation
- Broodstock-rearing
- Marine shrimp grow-out
- Finfish grow-out
- Basic utilities and roads installed
- 15-year master plan completed for the site.
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Research
- Focus of active research and development -- Culture of marine shrimp
- Focus of proposed research and development:
- Culture of Gulf marine fish
- cobia,
- spotted sea trout (speckled trout)
- red drum
- red snapper
- striped bass
- southern flounder
- tripletail
- Culture of marine invertebrates
- shrimp
- clams
- oysters
- crabs
- Culture of marine algae
- Health and genetics research
- Culture of Gulf marine fish
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The Need
Worldwide capture fisheries reached a plateau of about 100 million metric tons 15 years ago. At the current rate of world population growth, an additional 100 million metric tons of fishery products will be needed by 2025 to maintain the current per capita consumption rate of seafood.
The development of a domestic aquaculture industry will:
- create new jobs that are currently lost overseas
- help offset our trade deficit in seafood products
- assist in the recovery of overfished species
- enhance stocks that are currently recovering from overfishing.
Opportunities
- Graduate study
- Academic and research positions
- Private partnerships
- Interagency research and education
Commercialization
For opportunities in licensing and commercialization, please contact USM’s Office of Technology Development at (601) 266-5372 or e-mail Chase Kasper at Chase.Kasper@usm.edu.