Marine debris is defined as any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes (NOAA). Within coastal Mississippi (MS) USA, marine debris continues to economically negatively impact commercial fishing industries. Mississippi State University and Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United (MSCFU) established the Derelict Trap Reward Program was implemented in 2019 to remove entangled derelict fishing gear while providing stewardship opportunities and monetary incentives to commercial shrimpers to help reduce marine debris. In 2023, the partnership expanded the program and began to focus on off-bottom oyster aquaculture and including farmers in stewardship efforts.
Off-bottom oyster aquaculture farms in MS are leased from the state approximately 1 km south of Deer Island, MS. Gear type varies, but the gear is primarily comprised of large floats attached to cages that can be suspended in the water column with rows of cages attached via line. The farm grounds are protected by the island in the north and by Katrina Reef Breakwater 1 km south. However, wind and wave action from the east and west leave aquaculture gear exposed, and as a result, gear often becomes derelict. Starting in late 2022, monthly aerial mapping missions over Deer Island have been conducted with a UAV. The primary goal of these flights is to identify off-bottom aquaculture equipment and return the gear back to farmers. Through a streamlined workflow, farmers are contracted by MSCFU to retrieve lost farm gear identified. Current efforts have led to the recovery of off-bottom aquaculture floats, cages, or a combination of both. Aquaculture equipment is collected by MSCFU and given back to respective farmers, when identifiable. Additionally, derelict crab traps and fish accumulator devices are identified for removal by the state.