USM to Host Panel Discussion on Oyster Restoration October 19
Fri, 10/16/2015 - 08:57am
The University of Southern Mississippi will host “Science on the Half Shell: Mississippi Sound Oysters from Mississippi Sound Science,” Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the Fleming Education Center auditorium on the Gulf Park campus (730 East Beach Boulevard) in Long Beach.
“We are providing a venue for two-way communication on the importance of using science as a basis for oyster restoration,” said Dr. Monty Graham, Interim Director for the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and chair of the Department of Marine Science at Southern Miss. “Science is the key, and we hope to increase the trust that the public should have in its university and state resource scientists who are playing such a critical role in the restoration process.”
The discussion, which will focus on oyster restoration in Mississippi, will feature panelists and moderators from the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and Department of Marine Science at Southern Miss, as well as the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.
“Oysters are a vital part of the ecosystem of the Mississippi Sound and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the economy of South Mississippi,” said Dr. Kelly Lucas, chief scientific officer for the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. “Panel discussions such as these provide a better understanding of the critical role oysters and research partnerships have in our area.”
The oyster panel presentation is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 228.818.8847 or visit www.usm.edu/gcrl.
About the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
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 www.dmr.ms.gov.