Project Page

Reduction of Marine Mammal Fishery Interactions through Trawl Technique and Component Material Improvements

Implementing Organization

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; State of Mississippi

Overview

DWH Project Funding

$3,090,000

Known Leveraged Funding

$0

Funding Organization

Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (NRDA)

Funding Program

Natural Resource Damage Assessment NRDA

Details

Project Category

Environmental

Project Actions

Species Restoration

Targeted Resources

Marine Mammals

Project Description

The project is intended to provide restoration benefits to Gulf of Mexico common bottlenose dolphins by decreasing the number of interactions and mortality in commercial shrimp skimmer trawls in Mississippi state waters, while maintaining catch efficiency and fishing performance/usability. The project team will work with researchers and the fishing community to evaluate the performance and usability of both trawl coves and trawls constructed of alternative trawl net material and gear configurations for reduced dolphin interactions and fishing performance. Drones and acoustic underwater cameras will also be explored for use in observing dolphin behavior during trawling operations.

Contact

Chris Wells
(601) 961-5545
cwells@mdeq.ms.gov
Project Website
Project Partners

None

Affiliated Institutions

For official trustee information regarding the Deepwater Horizon NRDA, including information regarding the NRDA process and the status of projects, see https://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/

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