Spring 09.qxp:9848 DMR Letter 5/8/09 9:26 AM Page 1 CVolumeo12, Issaue 3 sNtEWSaLETTER OlF THE MISSISSIPPIaDEPARTrMENTkOF MAeRINE RErSOURCs ES Spring 2009 Secretary of State Presents $7.3M Tidelands Check Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann presented a Tidelands check for $7.3 million to the CMR on Dec. 15, 2008. Pictured, from left to right, are state Rep. Jeffrey Guice, state Sen. David Baria, state Rep. Hank Zuber, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, DMR Executive Director Dr. William Walker, state Rep. Randall Patterson, state Rep. Richard Bennett, state Rep. Frank Hamilton and state Rep. Roger Ishee. Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann pre - required them to pay a tidelands assess - state. Traditionally, the Mississippi sented a check for $7,321,138 to the ment, which is based on the casino's cap - Legislature appropriates the lease revenue Commission on Marine Resources (CMR) ital investment. for specific projects. Rent is collected at a ceremony held at the Secretary of “This tidelands check is crucial to from tidelands leaseholders by the State’s office in Gulfport Dec. 15, 2008. Mississippi Gulf Coast citizens,” says Secretary of State and then returned to the The dollars are generated from Tidelands Hosemann. “And I am happy to report the DMR at the end of the fiscal year. leases and assessments. amount of this check is more than double See Tidelands Check, page 4 The Tidelands lease revenue was col - the check from 2007.” lected on tidelands leases on the The people of Mississippi own the pub - Mississippi Gulf Coast in the fiscal year lic trust tidelands, the land covered by Inside this issue... that ended June 30, 2008. The Tidelands water at high tide. Rent is collected by the Assessment revenue is a result of House Secretary of State’s Office from tidelands DMR hosts shellfish conference . 3 Bill 44, passed in the 2005 Fifth leaseholders, including casinos. Finfish regulations update . 4 Extraordinary Session. That bill allowed As Secretary of State, Hosemann nego - Converting rigs to reef . 4 land-based casinos on the Coast and tiates tidelands leases on behalf of the Commercial crab data program . 4 Crabbers volunteer to help terrapins . 5 2009 Marine Calendar winners . 6-7 10th annual Smart Growth Revised plant field guide . 8 Deer Island is recovering . 9 Conference to be held May 12-13; Joint Enforcement Agreement . 10 U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran will Marine Patrol officers rescue bridge tender . 10 deliver the keynote address. Spring brings science fairs . 11 Recipe: Smoked Oyster Casino . 12 See page 3 for full story. Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Spring 2009 Spring 09.qxp:9848 DMR Letter 5/8/09 9:26 AM Page 2 Coastal Markers is a publication of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Director’s Notes 1141 Bayview Avenue Dr. William Walker Biloxi, MS 39530 (228) 374-5000 The call came in to the www.dmr.ms.gov DMR’s Marine Patrol dispatch at 7:32 a.m. State of Mississippi March 20. A barge had Haley Barbour hit the Popp’s Ferry Governor Bridge and collapsed a span on the south end, sending a car into Biloxi’s Back Bay. July 2-5th, 2009 Mississippi Commission on Within 12 minutes Marine Patrol was at the Point Cadet, Biloxi, Miss. Marine Resources scene. By 8 a.m., eight marine patrol offi - cers in four boats were working in concert Vernon Asper, Ph.D., Chairman with Biloxi Police and Fire departments and Nonprofit Environmental other first responders to rescue the bridge Organization tender trapped on the bridge. FREE The accident, fortunately, resulted in no BOAT & WATER SAFETY Richard Gollott, Vice Chairman injuries or casualties, and is being investi - CLASSES Commercial Seafood Processor gated by the U.S. Coast Guard who has 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. jurisdiction in this case since the tugboat LOCATIONS Shelby Drummond pushing the eight barges was a commercial Recreational Sports Fisherman Biloxi, Miss. documented vessel. Bolton State Office Building As construction crews worked to repair 1141 Bayview Avenue Steve Bosarge the bridge in the weeks following the acci - Commercial Fisherman Bay St. Louis, Miss. dent, Marine Patrol’s role shifted from Mississippi Power Company Auditorium emergency response to boating safety— Highway 90 Jimmy Taylor establishing and enforcing a “Designated Charter Boat Operator Marine Safety Zone,” a no wake zone for Gautier, Miss. Recreational Leadership Building the waters of the Back Bay of Biloxi within MGCCC Jackson County Campus William W. Walker, Ph.D. 500 feet of the centerline of the Popp’s Ferry Executive Director Bridge. Marine Patrol officers patrolled the DATES area 24-7 to ensure the safety of the workers, B.S.L. Biloxi Gautier William S. “Corky” Perret the structure being repaired and the boaters June .......... 6............... 13 ............... 20 Deputy Director approaching the bridge construction area. July .......... 11 .............. 18 ............... 25 Aug. .......... 1................ 8................ 15 Since creating an excessive wake in a no Sept. ........ 12 .............. 19 ............... 26 Coastal Markers is produced by wake zone is subject to fines ranging from Oct. ........... 3............... 10 ............... 17 the Office of Public Affairs $100-$500 plus court fees, marine patrol officers flagged down approaching boaters Pre-registration is required. Call DMR’s Lauren S. Thompson before they reached the no-wake zone area Marine Patrol at (228) 523-4134. Editor-in-Chief to let them know that it was in effect. Marine Shelly Becker Patrol also conducted interviews with local Graphic Designer TV and newspaper reporters to help raise awareness about the no wake zone in effect, Thanks! Lisa Damiano Jones which ended when the bridge reopened to Thanks to all those who contributed Editor traffic April 25. to this issue of Coastal Markers. As the leading marine law enforcement Linda Wakefield Melanie Lane This publication was funded through a agency within the state of Mississippi, Dr. Fred Deegen Jeff Davis federal grant from the National Oceanic Marine Patrol works hand-in-hand with Kerwin Cuevas Donnie Armes and Atmospheric Administration other emergency responders to enhance the Amy Taylor Richard Cooley (NOAA), Office of Ocean and Coastal safety and quality of life in the marine com - Traci Floyd Joe Jewell Resource Management under the munity. Their response to the Popp’s Ferry Darrin Stewart Ruth Posadas Coastal Zone Management Act of Jeff Clark Susan Perkins 1972, as amended. Bridge collision is just one example of this. Michaela Hill Tina Shumate Dave Ruple Leslie Young VISIT DMR ONLINE Executive Director Rick Ranew Dorothy Daniel Ali Rupp www.dmr.ms.gov Mississippi Department of Marine Resources 2 Spring 2009 Spring 09.qxp:9848 DMR Letter 5/8/09 9:26 AM Page 3 U.S. Senator Thad Cochran to Speak at 10th Annual Smart Growth Conference U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran will deliver the keynote address at the 10th annual Coastal Development Strategies (Smart Growth) Conference to be held May 12-13 at the IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi. Cochran will speak on the first day of the event. He was elected to the Senate in 1978, becoming the first Republican 10th annual Smart Growth in over 100 years to win a statewide election in Mississippi. He currently Conference to be held May 12-13 serves as ranking member of the full The 10th annual Coastal Development “We are excited to host this 10th annu - Appropriations Committee and the Strategies (Smart Growth) Conference al event,” said Tina Shumate, director of Homeland Security Appropriations will be held May 12-13, 2009, at the IP the Office of Coastal Management and Subcommittee. He also serves as a Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi. Conference Planning. “We hope that you all will join member of the Agriculture, Nutrition attendees will learn about possible solu - us in celebrating 10 years of resilient and and Forestry Committee and the Rules tions to build sustainable communities, sustainable Smart Growth.” Committee. After his home state of spur economic development and improve This multidisciplinary event draws Mississippi was hit by the worst natu - the quality of life in southern Mississippi. elected officials, city and county staff, ral disaster in the history of the U.S., The conference is hosted by the DMR contractors, developers, bankers, plan - Cochran used his role as the chairman Office of Coastal Management and ners, zoning officials, realt ors and apprais - of the Senate Appropriations Planning’s Comprehensive Resource ers, engineers, landowners, industry, stu - Committee to advance legislation pro - Management Plan (CRMP) and confer - dents, federal and state agencies, boards viding over $87 billion in supplemen - ence partners, Mississippi Gulf Coast of supervisors, lawyers, private and cor - tal federal assistance to the states Chamber of Commerce and Mississippi porate entities, environmentalists, Gulf Coast Business Council. resource managers and others committed affected by the storm. A native of CRMP’s mission is to develop a plan to to rebuilding the Gulf Coast. Pontotoc, Miss., Sen. Cochran earned sustain Mississippi’s coastal resources while Real estate agents can earn five to 10 his bachelor’s and law degrees from providi ng a hea lthy economy in the region. hours of continuing education credit and the University of Mississippi. He and The conference will feature speakers and appraisers four hours by attending the his wife, the former Rose Clayton of breakout sessions, including topics such as conference. Receipts will be provided to New Albany, Miss., have two children sustainable development; heritage tourism; all other professions (such as engineers, and three grandchildren. green building; working waterfronts; liv - teachers and architects) to submit for able, walkable communities; and resiliency. credit to their respective organizations. DMR hosts annual Gulf and South Atlantic States Shellfish Conference More than 80 shellfish industry regulators and representatives attended the 2009 Gulf and South Atlantic States Shellfish Conference (GSASSC), hosted by DMR April 13-16 at the Gulf Hills Hotel and Conference Center in Ocean Springs, Miss.