Discovering Mississippi’s Marine Treasures: River Basin Panel Explores IMMS Insights

GULFPORT, Miss. – A group of 35 members from the Mississippi River Basin Panel visited the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies recently to explore South Mississippi’s marine environment. The panel, guided by Elizabeth Brown, aims to tackle invasive species like algae that threaten the area.

“What happens in our freshwater lakes affects marine life,” Brown noted. Their visit was particularly focused on the algae bloom in the Mississippi Sound. This bloom followed the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Louisiana, which was done to manage flooding.

Research from IMMS showed a troubling impact on wildlife, particularly dolphins. Dr. Moby Solangi, the president of IMMS, shared that 153 bottlenose dolphins died as a result of this event. He pointed out the broader consequences as well, saying, “We lost oysters. We lost shrimp.”

Dr. Solangi suggested a different approach to address flooding along the Mississippi River. Instead of building levees, he believes dredging the river would help the water flow quicker, reducing the risk of overflow into other states.

Currently, about 7,500 bottlenose dolphins live along the coast between Mississippi and Louisiana. Dr. Solangi emphasized the importance of protecting the Mississippi River Basin for the area’s future. “We need to understand how these factors impact Mississippi,” he stated.