Marine science
GCRL: Busy now, busier in the future
GCRL: Busy now, busier in the future
...With all the uncertainties brought by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, one
thing is clear: This region will become a hotspot for marine science research.
...“Absolutely,” said Bill Hawkins, director of the Gulf Coast Research
Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Miss. It will involve every specialty in the field for
years to come. But how long?
...“It will be measured in decades, not years,” he said. And the dollar amount
will be huge.
...Michael Carron, director of the Northern Gulf Institute at Stennis Space
Center, Miss., put the figure at $100 million a year for 10 years.
...After 60 plus years of quietly doing marine science research, the lab is in the
midst of a multimillion-dollar building project and positioned to become a big
economic development engine for South Mississippi. Part of the reason is its
focus on the growing field of aquaculture, the other is its wide range of expertise
that will bring in new R&D dollars related to the spill.
Facilities
...The lab along the shoreline in Ocean Springs is a marine research and
education enterprise launched in 1947 by the Mississippi Academy of Sciences
as a field station. It later became a state institution and has been part of the
University of Southern Mississippi since 1988.
...GCRL is both a research facility and education center for future scientists.
Research is multidisciplinary and applications-oriented, and focuses on coastal
and marine resources and the development of marine technologies. Its education
work includes graduate degree programs in coastal sciences and undergraduate
field courses in marine biology. Expertise runs the gamut from marine ecology to
aquaculture, zoology, biodiversity aquatic toxicology, fisheries and more.
...The lab has about 200 people at two sites some two miles apart “as the crow
flies,” and a third site at Biloxi’s Point Cadet. The oldest is the Halstead site,
about 50 acres with marsh and water on three sides.
...“We have about 100,000 square feet of space, which includes research labs,
offices and dorms. And we have a small harbor here and three main research
vessels,” said Hawkins.
...The vessels are the 25-year-old R/V Tommy Munro, a 97-foot steel hull
vessel used for offshore work, the R/V Tom McIlwain, a 60-foot converted
charter boat, and the 35-foot R/V Hermes, a steel hull trawler built in 1952.
They also have trailerable boats.
...The second site is Cedar Point, with more than 200 acres, of which about half
is developable. It will have the same square footage as the Halstead property. It
has 25 people now, but that will go up to about 75. Some will relocate from the
Halstead site, others will be new hires, including scientific staff, post-doctoral
and research associates.
...While the lab has a wide range of expertise, it’s marine aquaculture that’s
been a strong suit. That will be the focus of Cedar Point, which is named the
Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture
Center. About $40 million in buildings have been constructed or are planned.
...The keystone building is the 26,000 square-foot, $13 million office and
research lab, which will open in the fall. One of the newest buildings, which
opened last fall, is the Marine Environmental Research Laboratory for
experimental ecology studies.
...Cedar Point also will have a Marine Education Center to replace the facility in
Biloxi’s Point Cadet destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Chris Snyder,
director of the Marine Education Center, thinks it will take up to five years to
come to fruition. The $12 million to $15 million facility, funded through a
variety of sources, will have about 36,000 square feet of space.
Right field, right time
...More than two years ago GCRL held a meeting for economic development
leaders to point out that aquaculture is the fastest growing form of food
production in the world. Nearly half the fish consumed by humans is produced
by fish farms, and the trend toward aquaculture production is expected to
continue. But the United States is a small player - $1 billion in aquaculture
production compared to the world’s $70 billion. That’s an opportunity for South
Mississippi.
...Hawkins said seafood accounts for some $10 billion of the $36.4 billion trade
deficit because the United States imports most of what’s consumed. For shrimp
alone, 90 percent is imported,
over half through aquaculture.
...“If you look at worldwide catches of commercial species, it’s been flat for the
last 30 years,” Hawkins said. But the world population and seafood
consumption are both increasing.
...“Practically speaking, aquaculture is the only answer to meeting that increased
need, but it has to be done right,” said Hawkins.
...The lab is working with one aquaculture operation in Stone County, Miss.,
and expects to work with others, some of which may eventually set up
operations at an incubator at the lab’s Cedar Point property. GCRL expects the
site to become a magnet for commercial aquaculture operations.
A big award
...Hawkins said a $3.7 million award from the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration will be used for the development and
commercialization of new aquaculture technology at Cedar Point site.
...“If the national aquaculture industry evolves, an institution like ours will play a
major role,” said Hawkins.
...The NOAA money will support the science that forms the foundation for the
development of marine aquaculture, including ongoing studies to bring species to
commercialization.
...“We’re making a lot of progress bringing several new species to aquaculture
development,” said Hawkins, including blue crab, spotted seatrout, red snapper
and native white shrimp.
...GCRL’s interest in aquaculture includes food production, stock enhancement
and recreational fishers and the ornamental fish trade, said Jeff Lotz, head of
Southern Miss’ Department of Coastal Sciences and the aquaculture center.
...“Maybe one day fish will be like chicken,” he said, referring to the change that
occurred years ago when small farm operations gave way to large production
facilities designed to meet the appetite of consumers.
The spill
...The commercial fishing industry and aquaculture have often been at odds.
Fishermen see aquaculture, whether land-based or offshore, as an assault on
their livelihood. But the oil spill may change the rules of the game. The oil will
have an impact on fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, but how big an impact is too
early to tell. It may shortcircuit offshore fish pens. Land-based aquaculture using
recirculating water may wind up helping to replenish stocks impacted by the
spill. - David Tortorano
July 2010
thing is clear: This region will become a hotspot for marine science research.
...“Absolutely,” said Bill Hawkins, director of the Gulf Coast Research
Laboratory in Ocean Springs, Miss. It will involve every specialty in the field for
years to come. But how long?
...“It will be measured in decades, not years,” he said. And the dollar amount
will be huge.
...Michael Carron, director of the Northern Gulf Institute at Stennis Space
Center, Miss., put the figure at $100 million a year for 10 years.
...After 60 plus years of quietly doing marine science research, the lab is in the
midst of a multimillion-dollar building project and positioned to become a big
economic development engine for South Mississippi. Part of the reason is its
focus on the growing field of aquaculture, the other is its wide range of expertise
that will bring in new R&D dollars related to the spill.
Facilities
...The lab along the shoreline in Ocean Springs is a marine research and
education enterprise launched in 1947 by the Mississippi Academy of Sciences
as a field station. It later became a state institution and has been part of the
University of Southern Mississippi since 1988.
...GCRL is both a research facility and education center for future scientists.
Research is multidisciplinary and applications-oriented, and focuses on coastal
and marine resources and the development of marine technologies. Its education
work includes graduate degree programs in coastal sciences and undergraduate
field courses in marine biology. Expertise runs the gamut from marine ecology to
aquaculture, zoology, biodiversity aquatic toxicology, fisheries and more.
...The lab has about 200 people at two sites some two miles apart “as the crow
flies,” and a third site at Biloxi’s Point Cadet. The oldest is the Halstead site,
about 50 acres with marsh and water on three sides.
...“We have about 100,000 square feet of space, which includes research labs,
offices and dorms. And we have a small harbor here and three main research
vessels,” said Hawkins.
...The vessels are the 25-year-old R/V Tommy Munro, a 97-foot steel hull
vessel used for offshore work, the R/V Tom McIlwain, a 60-foot converted
charter boat, and the 35-foot R/V Hermes, a steel hull trawler built in 1952.
They also have trailerable boats.
...The second site is Cedar Point, with more than 200 acres, of which about half
is developable. It will have the same square footage as the Halstead property. It
has 25 people now, but that will go up to about 75. Some will relocate from the
Halstead site, others will be new hires, including scientific staff, post-doctoral
and research associates.
...While the lab has a wide range of expertise, it’s marine aquaculture that’s
been a strong suit. That will be the focus of Cedar Point, which is named the
Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture
Center. About $40 million in buildings have been constructed or are planned.
...The keystone building is the 26,000 square-foot, $13 million office and
research lab, which will open in the fall. One of the newest buildings, which
opened last fall, is the Marine Environmental Research Laboratory for
experimental ecology studies.
...Cedar Point also will have a Marine Education Center to replace the facility in
Biloxi’s Point Cadet destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Chris Snyder,
director of the Marine Education Center, thinks it will take up to five years to
come to fruition. The $12 million to $15 million facility, funded through a
variety of sources, will have about 36,000 square feet of space.
Right field, right time
...More than two years ago GCRL held a meeting for economic development
leaders to point out that aquaculture is the fastest growing form of food
production in the world. Nearly half the fish consumed by humans is produced
by fish farms, and the trend toward aquaculture production is expected to
continue. But the United States is a small player - $1 billion in aquaculture
production compared to the world’s $70 billion. That’s an opportunity for South
Mississippi.
...Hawkins said seafood accounts for some $10 billion of the $36.4 billion trade
deficit because the United States imports most of what’s consumed. For shrimp
alone, 90 percent is imported,
over half through aquaculture.
...“If you look at worldwide catches of commercial species, it’s been flat for the
last 30 years,” Hawkins said. But the world population and seafood
consumption are both increasing.
...“Practically speaking, aquaculture is the only answer to meeting that increased
need, but it has to be done right,” said Hawkins.
...The lab is working with one aquaculture operation in Stone County, Miss.,
and expects to work with others, some of which may eventually set up
operations at an incubator at the lab’s Cedar Point property. GCRL expects the
site to become a magnet for commercial aquaculture operations.
A big award
...Hawkins said a $3.7 million award from the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration will be used for the development and
commercialization of new aquaculture technology at Cedar Point site.
...“If the national aquaculture industry evolves, an institution like ours will play a
major role,” said Hawkins.
...The NOAA money will support the science that forms the foundation for the
development of marine aquaculture, including ongoing studies to bring species to
commercialization.
...“We’re making a lot of progress bringing several new species to aquaculture
development,” said Hawkins, including blue crab, spotted seatrout, red snapper
and native white shrimp.
...GCRL’s interest in aquaculture includes food production, stock enhancement
and recreational fishers and the ornamental fish trade, said Jeff Lotz, head of
Southern Miss’ Department of Coastal Sciences and the aquaculture center.
...“Maybe one day fish will be like chicken,” he said, referring to the change that
occurred years ago when small farm operations gave way to large production
facilities designed to meet the appetite of consumers.
The spill
...The commercial fishing industry and aquaculture have often been at odds.
Fishermen see aquaculture, whether land-based or offshore, as an assault on
their livelihood. But the oil spill may change the rules of the game. The oil will
have an impact on fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, but how big an impact is too
early to tell. It may shortcircuit offshore fish pens. Land-based aquaculture using
recirculating water may wind up helping to replenish stocks impacted by the
spill. - David Tortorano
July 2010
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