USM Estuarine and Movement Ecology Lab

10/03/2026

Last weekend, our team helped welcome members of the community to GCRL’s Open House!

We loved getting to share a little bit about what we do, answer questions, and connect with our community. We’re always excited for opportunities to share our research and the work happening at GCRL!

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10/02/2026

10/02/2026

Last week, we spent some time on the Pascagoula River surveying Gulf Sturgeon holding sites alongside the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Using side-scan sonar, we surveyed two stretches of the river where Gulf Sturgeon are known to congregate during the summer. These annual surveys allow us to get census counts at known holding sites and track changes in the number of sturgeon using these areas over time.

Keeping up with these annual counts helps provide a long-term look at Gulf Sturgeon use of the Pascagoula River and contributes to ongoing monitoring of this federally protected species.

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09/25/2026

Come see us tomorrow from 10am-2pm!

🌿 Save the Date! 🌊

Join us at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory for our big annual Open House on Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Come experience one of our favorite events of the year! Whether you’re curious about marine life, coastal research, or just looking for a fun and educational day by the water, there’s something for everyone.

We hope to see you there!

08/31/2026

A great highlight of some of our collaborative work with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). We're currently analyzing this data and look forward to sharing the results soon!

ERDC researchers are teaming up with The University of Southern Mississippi to study Gulf Sturgeon and how they’re using restored habitat around Mississippi’s barrier islands.

As part of the research, six adult Gulf Sturgeon were placed in a unique mobile swim tunnel, developed by ERDC’s Fish and Invertebrate Ecology Team, that allowed the team to measure how the fish swim and forage in their native water. They were then quickly returned to their habitat with minimal handling.

Researchers are using the results to validate data from accelerometer tags on the fish and gain a better understanding of how Gulf Sturgeon are responding to restored areas, particularly around Ship Island.

This research is providing a first-hand look at Gulf Sturgeon’s swimming performance while helping scientists evaluate the success of restoration efforts tied to the Mississippi Coastal Improvements Project.

08/20/2026

🚨$250 REWARD FOR TAGGED COBIA & TRIPLETAIL!🚨

Across the Gulf of Mexico, hundreds of Cobia and Tripletail are being tagged as part of a high-dollar reward tagging program.

These fish will receive both internal and external tags, and returning a tag could earn you a $250 reward!

All you need to do is:
- Clip and mail in the external tag
- Report your catch at tags.usouthal.edu
- If the fish is harvested, please return the internal acoustic tag

Help us spread the word! Please share with your fishing friends, fishing clubs, and anyone else who spends time on the Gulf. The more anglers who know to report these tags, the more we can learn about these important species!

This project is made possible through funding from the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission and collaboration among researchers and partners across the Gulf Coast.

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08/20/2026

We can't wait to see you all then!

🌿 Save the Date! 🌊

Join us at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory for our big annual Open House on Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Come experience one of our favorite events of the year! Whether you’re curious about marine life, coastal research, or just looking for a fun and educational day by the water, there’s something for everyone.

We hope to see you there!

08/20/2026

A few weeks ago, Kirsten traveled across the pond to Southampton, UK, to attend the Fisheries Society of the British Isles (The FSBI) 2026 Annual Symposium!

While there, Kirsten presented a portion of her thesis research on cownose ray movement in the north-central Gulf of Mexico, sharing her work with fisheries scientists from around the world.

Kirsten was able to attend the symposium as the recipient of the 2026 American Fisheries Society-International Fisheries Section Fellow Award. We're incredibly proud of her for representing our lab and sharing her research on an international stage!

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08/12/2026

Last week, our summer undergraduate intern, Andrea, wrapped up her MAR490 experiential learning internship by presenting the results of her research project to the lab.

We’re so grateful for all of Andrea’s help in the lab this summer and have enjoyed having her as part of the team. We wish her the best of luck as she starts her first transfer semester here at USM!

USM undergrads - if you're looking to complete your experiential learning requirement and want to dive into research with us, please reach out to Dr. van der Ham!

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