State of the Mississippi Fishing Industry

It’s been another year filled with uncertainty for Mississippi’s fishermen and some are sharing their concerns and hopes for the rest of the year.

Local oyster farmer Christopher Rhodes says the economic impacts of COVID-19 and the legislative budget battle over funding for the Department of Marine Resources has posed challenges for fishermen and the seafood industry.

Rhodes points to increased economic recovery as restaurants and businesses get back on their feet following shutdowns, but questions surrounding DMR’s budget are still concerning.

Overall, Rhodes hopes Governor Reeves and the legislature can come to an agreement soon on the budget so that projects like GOMESA funding can be spent to protect coastal waters and fishing zones. “You know that goes into quality, safety. There’s just so many projects and different contractors that they go through. When you mention DMR, I don’t think anybody really gets the full spectrum of the impact they have here on the Gulf Coast on our economy, on our people.”

Rhodes says the local fishing industry is resilient, but securing funding for DMR will ultimately go a long way in providing fishermen with more stability.