Mississippi Field Station

Aquaculture has grown tremendously over the last 30 years, with catfish aquaculture being the largest foodfish aquaculture in the U.S. In addition to catfish, baitfish and sportfish, salmon, trout, shellfish, shrimp, redfish, and hybrid striped bass are also important aquaculture products. With the growth in aquaculture has come a corresponding increase in predation and disease issues caused by birds and other wildlife on aquaculture stocks. 

To address these depredation problems the National Wildlife Research Center of the USDA's Wildlife Services (formerly Animal Damage Control), under a Congressional directive, established a research station at Mississippi State University in 1988.

Biologists at the NWRC Mississippi field station conduct studies with both captive and free-ranging birds to determine the extent of bird damage; the local and regional population status of birds; and effective control methods.

The goal of Mississippi field station research is not centered on the development of a single method as a panacea for all damage problems, because none is likely to be cost-effective in all situations. Instead, the continuing emphasis is on developing several alternative strategies that can be integrated into a comprehensive management plan for cost-effective reductions in bird and other wildlife damage to aquaculture. NWRC Mississippi field station staff work closely with the industry, and federal, state, and university researchers to increase our understanding and develop effective solutions to wildlife depredation issues on aquaculture.

 Further information on the research conducted at the Starkville, MS Field Station can be found on the Defining Economic Impacts and Developing Strategies for Reducing Avian Predation in Aquaculture Systems Research Project page.