Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

Research at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory is multidisciplinary and applications-oriented.

Aquaculture of Cobia Rachycentron canadum in Closed Systems. Researchers are experimenting with rearing this large marine fish in indoor aquaculture systems. Jeffrey M. Lotz, Ph.D.

Marine Shrimp Aquaculture. The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory has developed a leadership role in closed-system water-reuse shrimp culture and reproduction research and has transferred aspects of that technology for use in commercial seed production facilities. Jeffrey M. Lotz, Ph.D.

Red Snapper Aquaculture. Stock enhancement research and development is underway to augment and increase the options of state and federal fisheries managers as well as to develop a commercial aquaculture industry. Jeffrey M. Lotz, Ph.D.

Spotted Seatrout Culture. Methods are under development to acquire, maintain and spawn broodstock of spotted seatrout in order to facilitate production, rearing, tagging, releasing and assessing of juveniles in a pilot stocking program. Reginald B. Blaylock, Ph.D.

Striped Bass Restoration Program. Striped bass have been reared to fingerling size in intensive culture systems and released in coastal tributaries since 1969 in an ongoing effort to restore the decimated population. Larry Nicholson, M.S.

Marine Mycology. Researchers are examining the roles of marine fungi in estuarine function, restoration success and assessment. Jinx Campbell, Ph.D.

Regional Native Plant Nursery for Habitat Restoration. Gulf Coast Research Laboratory botanists are experimenting with growing saltmarsh plants from the seeds of native Mississippi plants. The goal is to develop procedures for producing plants that are native to Mississippi and that will be readily available for use in restoration projects in Mississippi coastal wetlands. Patrick D. Biber, Ph.D.

Seagrass Indicators Development. Software applications are under development for predictive indicators of the health of submerged aquatic vegetation for management purposes. Patrick D. Biber, Ph.D.

Center for Fisheries Research and Development.The center's scientists address fisheries issues important to Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico region. Harriet M. Perry, M.S.

Shrimp Disease Research. Investigations of diseases of wild and aquaculture shrimp are conducted through the Crustacean Disease Laboratory at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. Jeffrey M. Lotz, Ph.D.

Beach Monitoring Program. In a year-round operation, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory personnel monitor the bacterial water quality of Mississippi's bathing beaches and provide data to the state agency responsible for open and closure of public beaches. Dawn Rebarchik

Consortium for Estuarine Ecoindicator Research for the Gulf of Mexico. Nine universities have established a consortium with the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory to develop practical bioindicators to monitor estuary health. Marius Brouwer, Ph.D.

Shellfish Sanitation Laboratory. The analysis of sea water samples and oyster meats by Gulf Coast Research Laboratory personnel provides data on bacterial levels of oyster-growing waters to the state agency responsible for decisions on open and closure of oyster harvest areas. Dawn Rebarchik

Toxicogenomics. The research of the Aquatic Research Consortium combines genomics and molecular toxicology to find correlations between toxicants and nutrient overload and changes in the genetic profiles of exposed estuarine organisms. The identification of such "biomarker" responses to environmental stressors such as hypoxia and chemical contaminants gives resource managers the information and tools needed for making science-based decisions. Marius Brouwer