Description
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service intends to award a single source cooperative agreement to the University of Southern Mississippi to implement a project entitled "Characterizing Gulf Sturgeon Spawning Habitat, Habitat Use, and Origins of Juvenile Sturgeon within the Pearl and Pascagoula River Systems". The project aims to identify and characterize potential spawning habitat, describe habitat accessibility and use during spawning periods, determine the river reach of origin for juvenile sturgeon, and synthesize data to evaluate and prioritize spawning habitat restoration projects. The project will involve field surveys, sonar data collection, and telemetry monitoring to achieve its objectives.
Key aspects of the project include:
• Identifying and characterizing potential spawning habitat in the Pearl and Pascagoula River systems
• Describing habitat accessibility and use during spawning periods
• Determining the river reach of origin for juvenile sturgeon
• Synthesizing data to evaluate and prioritize spawning habitat restoration projects
• Collaborating with the University of Southern Mississippi and other partners to achieve project objectives