Mississippi Department of Marine Resources

06/12/2026

The Mississippi Advisory Commission on Marine Resources will meet Tuesday, June 16, at the City of D’Iberville’s City Council Boardroom, located at 10383 Auto Mall Parkway in D’Iberville.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. The meeting will broadcast live on the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’ YouTube channel at the following link: https://youtube.com/live/NL3InKswHKs?feature=share. Please note that questions and public comments will not be answered via the live stream. The meeting is also archived for later viewing on the agency’s YouTube page.

Agenda:https://dmr.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/26-20-CWS-MACMR-to-meet-Tuesday-June-16-in-DIberville_updated.pdf

Press Release: https://dmr.ms.gov/macmr-to-meet-tuesday-june-16-in-diberville/

06/12/2026

FYI from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Mobile

06/11/2026

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources was honored to join the Pass Christian Rotary Club today, where Executive Director Joe Spraggins provided an update on the agency’s ongoing efforts and initiatives along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.

Director Spraggins shared information about MDMR programs, current projects and the agency’s commitment to conserving and enhancing Mississippi’s coastal and marine resources while supporting the communities, industries and ecosystems that depend on them.

Thank you to the Pass Christian Rotary Club for the opportunity to speak and engage with community leaders dedicated to making a positive impact along the Coast.

06/11/2026

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) Seafood Technology Bureau will host a free ServSafe course for Mississippi seafood industry members.

The class, taught by ServSafe Instructor/Proctor Jessica Rankin, will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. with additional time for testing from 5 – 7 p.m., as needed. The class will be held in the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum, located at 115 E. 1st Street in Biloxi.

The cost is free for Mississippi residents who are involved in the seafood industry. A valid ID will be required on the day of the class.

Space is limited to the first 25 registrants. Advanced registration is encouraged and can be completed at https://dmr.ms.gov/servsafetraining/.

For more information, click the link below.

26-19-CWS | June 11, 2026 BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) Seafood Technology Bureau will host a free ServSafe course for Mississippi seafood industry members. The class, taught by ServSafe Instructor/Proctor Jessica Rankin, will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 202...

06/11/2026

Healthy fringe marshes are the first line of defense for Coastal Mississippi’s waterways. These vital habitats help filter pollutants, reduce erosion, provide nursery grounds for fish and wildlife, and protect our communities from storm impacts. Thriving marsh grasses along the shoreline are a sign of a resilient coast and a healthier ecosystem for future generations. Protecting and restoring these habitats means protecting the natural beauty, biodiversity, and livelihoods that make Coastal Mississippi special.

06/10/2026

As part of the Monofilament Recycling Program, Dawn Thompson with MDMR's Shrimp and Crab Bureau recently distributed 300 monofilament recycling bags and shared information about the importance of recycling fishing line with anglers participating in the D'Iberville Fishing Rodeo and the Ocean Springs Marine Mart Fishing Tournament.

Discarded fishing line can entangle wildlife, damage boat propellers and create hazards for marine habitats. That's why MDMR encourages anglers to properly dispose of used line through our Monofilament Recycling Program.

Here's how it works:
✅ Pick up a FREE recycling bag
✅ Keep it on your boat while fishing
✅ Store broken or unused fishing line in the bag
✅ When you return to shore, dispose of the line at one of our collection sites located at 16 public piers and boat launches. Find a recycling location at https://dmr.ms.gov/monofilament-recycling/.

Need a monofilament recycling bag for your boat? Email [email protected] to request one.

For more information about the Monofilament Recycling Program, visit: https://dmr.ms.gov/monofilament-recycling/.

06/09/2026

Want to learn more about the disCARD Project? Then check out the webinar on Tuesday, June 16, at 6 p.m. at www.msucoastal.com/discard/ .

During the webinar, the following will be discussed: overview of the disCARD project, including why the project was developed, how anglers can participate, and how the information collected will be used to improve our understanding of recreational fish discards in the Gulf.

06/09/2026

MDMR’s Seafood Technology Bureau was proud to partner with the Seafood HACCP Alliance to host the 2026 Seafood HACCP Train-the-Trainer Course in Biloxi this spring.

22 seafood safety professionals from across the United States participated in the intensive three-day training, earning certification as Seafood HACCP Trainers. The course covered critical food safety principles, regulatory updates, hazard analysis, critical control points, monitoring procedures, corrective actions, recordkeeping and verification.

Participants also strengthened their instructional skills through hands-on “teach-back” sessions designed to prepare them to train others in seafood safety practices.

By hosting this national course, MDMR continues to support seafood safety, regulatory compliance, and the development of future trainers who will help advance food safety education throughout the seafood industry.

06/08/2026

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is off to a great start with the 2026–2027 Off-Bottom Oyster Aquaculture (OBOA) Training Program!

Over the past month, trainees have completed the first two classes of this year-long program, gaining valuable classroom knowledge and hands-on experience in Mississippi's growing oyster aquaculture industry.

The first session introduced participants to the foundations of oyster farming, including oyster biology, site selection, shellfish growing areas, site selection, and business planning. The second class took place at The University of Southern Mississippi's Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, where trainees explored hatchery operations, shellstock distribution, aquaculture permitting, marketing and branding, and participated in a tour of TCMAC’s on-site shellfish hatchery.
From learning how oysters are produced in the hatchery to understanding what it takes to operate a successful oyster aquaculture business, participants are building the skills and knowledge needed to help support the future of Mississippi's oyster industry.

We look forward to following this year's class as they continue their training and take the next steps toward becoming Mississippi oyster farmers!

06/04/2026