Mississippi Space Grant Consortium

Abstract Oyster reef living shorelines have been proposed as an effective alternative to traditional coastal defence structures (e.g. bulkheads, breakwaters), with the benefit that they may keep pace with sea‐level rise and provide co‐benefits, such as habitat provision. However, there remains uncertainty about the effectiveness of shoreline protection provided by oyster reefs, which limits their broader application. We draw evidence from studies along the east and gulf coasts of the United States, where much research and implementation of oyster reef restoration has occurred, to better define the existing gaps in our understanding of the use of restored oyster reefs for shoreline protection. We find potential disconnects between ecological and engineering functions of reefs. In response, we outline how engineering and ecological principles are used in the design of oyster reef living shorelines and highlight knowledge gaps where an integration of these disciplines will lead to their more effective application. Synthesis and applications . This work highlights the necessary steps to advance the application of oyster reef living shorelines. Importantly, future research should focus on appropriate designs and conditions needed for these structures to effectively protect our coasts from erosion, while supporting a sustainable oyster population, thereby providing actionable nature‐based alternatives for coastal defence to diverse end‐users.

One of the paramount goals of oyster reef living shorelines is to achieve sustained and adaptive coastal protection, which requires meeting ecological (i.e., develop a self-sustaining oyster population) and engineering (i.e., provide coastal defense) targets. In a large-scale comparison along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, the efficacy of various designs of oyster reef living shorelines at providing wave attenuation was evaluated accounting for the ecological limitations of oysters with regard to inundation duration. A critical threshold for intertidal oyster reef establishment is 50% inundation duration. Living shorelines that spent less than one-half of the time (<50%) inundated were not considered suitable habitat for oysters, however, were effective at wave attenuation (68% reduction in wave height). Reefs that experienced >50% inundation were considered suitable habitat for oysters, but wave attenuation was similar to controls (no reef; ~5% reduction in wave height). Many of the oyster reef living shoreline approaches therefore failed to optimize the ecological and engineering goals. In both inundation regimes, wave transmission decreased with an increasing freeboard (difference between reef crest elevation and water level), supporting its importance in the wave attenuation capacity of oyster reef living shorelines. However, given that the reef crest elevation (and thus freeboard) should be determined by the inundation duration requirements of oysters, research needs to be refocused on understanding the implications of other reef parameters (e.g., width) for optimizing wave attenuation. A broader understanding of the reef characteristics and seascape contexts that result in effective coastal defense by oyster reefs is needed to inform appropriate design and implementation of oyster-based living shorelines globally.

Abstract Sea Grant programs, both separately and in collaboration, have supported growth of the off‐bottom oyster industry in all five U.S. states in the Gulf of Mexico. Here, we review the history of the Mississippi‐Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) investments in research and extension to support the growth of this industry (particularly in Alabama and Mississippi). Notably, the integration of applied research with strategic extension efforts was essential to the success of this industry. The MASGC enabled the establishment of commercial off‐bottom oyster aquaculture in Alabama and Mississippi using a series of strategic, outcomes‐focused investments in applied research and extension efforts through an array of partnerships. In Alabama, the first commercial off‐bottom oyster farm was established in 2009. The industry grew to 22 farms by 2020 with a farmgate value of nearly $1.5 million, employing over 30 full time equivalents (FTE). Over 12 farms have been established in Mississippi in the last two years. The MASGC also leveraged additional support from other funding agencies that has multiplied the outcomes and impacts.

Abstract The current COVID‐19 pandemic has forced the global higher education community to rapidly adapt to partially or fully online course offerings. For field‐ or laboratory‐based courses in ecological curricula, this presents unique challenges. Fortunately, a diverse set of active learning techniques exists, and these techniques translate well to online settings. However, limited guidance and resources exist for developing, implementing, and evaluating active learning assignments that fulfill specific objectives of ecology‐focused courses. To address these informational gaps, we (a) identify broad learning objectives across a variety of ecology‐focused courses, (b) provide examples, based on our collective online teaching experience, of active learning activities that are relevant to the identified ecological learning objectives, and (c) provide guidelines for successful implementation of active learning assignments in online courses. Using The Wildlife Society's list of online higher education ecology‐focused courses as a guide, we obtained syllabi from 45 ecology‐focused courses, comprising a total of 321 course‐specific learning objectives. We classified all course‐specific learning objectives into at least one of five categories: (a) Identification, (b) Application of Concepts/Hypotheses/Theories, (c) Management of Natural Resources, (d) Development of Professional Skills, or (e) Evaluation of Concepts/Practices. We then provided two examples of active learning activities for each of the five categories, along with guidance on their implementation in online settings. We suggest that, when based on sound pedagogy, active learning techniques can enhance the online student's experience by activating ecological knowledge.

Abstract Management of Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus has been a topic of much scientific debate and intensive public scrutiny. In response to political, public, and management desires for more robust data on Red Snapper populations, a gulfwide initiative commonly referred to as the “Great Red Snapper Count” (GRSC) was funded to estimate the absolute abundance of Red Snapper in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Here, we describe the results of an online survey designed to (1) characterize the social dimensions of Red Snapper anglers, (2) measure satisfaction with current Red Snapper populations and regulations, (3) assess overall patterns of awareness of the GRSC, and (4) evaluate the potential benefits of GRSC stakeholder engagement videos. A key finding of our survey was that awareness of the GRSC was associated with up to three times higher satisfaction with fisheries management. Through an in-survey experiment, we found that anglers that were presented a video on specific GRSC project components reported slightly higher management satisfaction than those presented an overview video or no video. Collectively, our results indicate that angler awareness, when underpinned by effective engagement and outreach activities, can enhance angler satisfaction.

Abstract Altered nutrient cycles and consumer populations are among the top anthropogenic influences on ecosystems. However, studies on the simultaneous impacts of human-driven environmental alterations on ecosystem functions, and the overall change in system multifunctionality are scarce. We used estuarine tidal flats to study the effects of changes in herbivore density and nutrient availability on benthic microalgae (diversity, abundance and biomass) and ecosystem functions (N 2 -fixation, denitrification, extracellular polymeric substances -EPS- as a proxy for sediment cohesiveness, sediment water content as a proxy of water retention capacity and sediment organic matter). We found consistent strong impacts of modified herbivory and weak effects of increased nutrient availability on the abundance, biomass and diversity of benthic microalgae. However, the effects on specific ecosystem functions were disparate. Some functions were independently affected by nutrient addition (N 2 -fixation), modified herbivory (sediment organic matter and water content), or their interaction (denitrification), while others were not affected (EPS). Overall system multifunction remained invariant despite changes in specific functions. This study reveals that anthropogenic pressures can induce decoupled effects between community structure and specific ecosystem functions. Our results highlight the need to address several ecosystem functions simultaneously for better ecosystem characterization and management.

Abstract Human activities in coastal areas are accelerating ecosystem changes at an unprecedented pace, resulting in habitat loss, hydrological modifications, and predatory species declines. Understanding how these changes potentially cascade across marine and freshwater ecosystems requires knowing how mobile euryhaline species link these seemingly disparate systems. As upper trophic level predators, bull sharks ( Carcharhinus leucas ) play a crucial role in marine and freshwater ecosystem health. Telemetry studies in Mobile Bay, Alabama, suggest that bull sharks extensively use the northern portions of the bay, an estuarine–freshwater interface known as the Mobile‐Tensaw Delta. To assess whether bull sharks use freshwater habitats in this region, environmental DNA surveys were conducted during the dry summer and wet winter seasons in 2018. In each season, 5 × 1 L water samples were collected at each of 21 sites: five sites in Mobile Bay, six sites in the Mobile‐Tensaw Delta, and ten sites throughout the Mobile‐Tombigbee and Tensaw‐Alabama Rivers. Water samples were vacuum‐filtered, DNA extractions were performed on the particulate, and DNA extracts were analyzed with Droplet Digital™ Polymerase Chain Reaction using species‐specific primers and an internal probe to amplify a 237‐base pair fragment of the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 gene in bull sharks. One water sample collected during the summer in the Alabama River met the criteria for a positive detection, thereby confirming the presence of bull shark DNA. While preliminary, this finding suggests that bull sharks use less‐urbanized, riverine habitats up to 120 km upriver during Alabama's dry summer season.

Abstract Depredation (i.e. partial removal of target catch prior to retrieval) caused by sharks is a prevalent issue affecting several fisheries in the southeastern USA. While US fisheries managers have begun monitoring shark depredation in commercial fisheries, there have been few attempts to quantify these interactions in the recreational fishing sector. To address this knowledge gap, we initiated a citizen-science-based project to provide an in-depth characterization of shark depredation in Florida’s recreational fisheries. This was done via multiple approaches, including social media content analysis, online angler surveys, and cooperative fishery-dependent charters. Across methodologies, snapper-grouper species were the most frequently depredated target species group, and bull and sandbar sharks were the most commonly identified depredating species. Forty-three percent of anglers experienced depredation, and the probability of experiencing depredation ranged from 10% to 60% and varied both regionally and seasonally. In addition, average depredation rates ranged from 31% to 47% and were within the range of reported rates from other recreational fisheries. These results will help build a comprehensive understanding of this human-wildlife conflict and could aid fishery managers in developing management measures to address this fisheries conflict. Furthermore, this study highlights the benefit of incorporating citizen science when addressing complex fisheries issues involving stakeholder conflict.

Abstract Identifying critical habitat for highly mobile species such as sharks is difficult, but essential for effective management and conservation. In regions where baseline data are lacking, non‐traditional data sources have the potential to increase observational capacity for species distribution and habitat studies. In this study, a research and education organization conducted a 5‐year (2013–2018) survey of shark populations in the coastal waters of west‐central Florida, an area where a diverse shark assemblage has been observed but no formal population analyses have been conducted. The objectives of this study were to use boosted regression tree (BRT) modeling to quantify environmental factors impacting the distribution of the shark assemblage, create species distribution maps from the model outputs, and identify spatially explicit hot spots of high shark abundance. A total of 1036 sharks were captured, encompassing eleven species. Abundance hot spots for four species and for immature sharks (collectively) were most often located in areas designated as “No Internal Combustion Engine” zones and seagrass bottom cover, suggesting these environments may be fostering more diverse and abundant populations. The BRT models were fitted for immature sharks and five species where n &gt; 100: the nurse shark ( Ginglymostoma cirratum ), blacktip shark ( Carcharhinus limbatus ), blacknose shark ( C. acronotus ), Atlantic sharpnose shark ( Rhizoprionodon terraenovae ), and bonnethead ( Sphyrna tiburo ). Capture data were paired with environmental variables: depth (m), sea surface temperature (°C), surface, middle, and bottom salinity (psu), dissolved oxygen (mg/L), and bottom type (seagrass, artificial reef, or sand). Depth, temperature, and bottom type were most frequently identified as predictors with the greatest marginal effect on shark distribution, underscoring the importance of nearshore seagrass and barrier island habitats to the shark assemblage in this region. This approach demonstrates the potential contribution of unconventional science to effective management and conservation of coastal sharks.

The topic of water resources is vast in its diversity and complexity as well as its integration with all components of the environment. In 2018, the editors of this special issue, as part of a National Sea Grant Water Resources Visioning Team, participated in an informal assessment of water resources-related efforts across the National Sea Grant College Program network. The Team received information from 25 individuals, representing 19 of the 34 state Sea Grant programs. No less than 56 discrete topics were identified within the context of water resources by this small sampling effort (Sea Grant 2018). The topics ranged from human health issues, such as access to safe drinking water; risks associated with flooding and drought; water infrastructure needs; land and water management; and social and economic issues associated with access to, and competing uses for, water. Clearly, water resources offer an abundance of challenges that demonstrate an ongoing need for reliable and trusted information. Professional extension can provide this reliable and trusted information to communities in need, especially in critical times—for example, during natural disasters—when access to resources and knowledge may mean survival. At its most basic level, extension is the conveyance of information. However, there is no widely accepted definition for the term. For many years the focus of extension was often farming and farmers. However, the implementation of extension has expanded widely to encompass informational needs at the watershed scale as well as in marine, coastal, and Laurentian Great Lakes environments. Much of this work in the United States (U.S.) is underpinned by a national academic and legislative foundation (Figure 1). Key national legislation underpinning professional extension in the United States. The U.S. System of Extension (extending science) is directly tied to, and reliant upon, the research capacities of the larger university enterprise. The extension system provides a critical connection between and among institutions and local communities, a mutualistic relationship with synergistic intent that is anchored in a grounded understanding of current needs, challenges, and opportunities to inform applied research. Extension is in turn necessarily responsive, offering needed information in accessible ways that local communities and individuals can and will use to make more informed decisions. The work of the extension agents and specialists that bridge these two worlds is often referred to as a “professional art.” They must understand science and technical data as well as be able to translate it to be easily understood and utilized by their target audience(s). Extension professionals must be agile and able to adjust and adapt to new and changing needs, be problem-solvers, and above all able to communicate and collaborate within the expectations and identities of the local culture without advocation. This last is an absolutely critical component and the “superpower” of extension professionals; to convey knowledge and understanding without “pushing” any agenda to enrich the recipient's informed choice. We have seen the expansion of extension needs and audiences over the last 50 years, and expect this trend to continue as our economy and social needs change. Revolutionary technologies and the democratization of science learning has brought new ways to connect people with information, equipment, and each other. Accessibility is enhanced through online engagement and dialogue, though awareness and care are needed to not repeat injustices of the past and ensure access to everyone, e.g. bridging the digital divide. Like many systems built in the past, extension has not been without its own injustices toward people of color, Indigenous, and other disenfranchised individuals. We recognize that the extension of the future must necessarily face this past while seeking to develop and share information for the betterment of all persons residing in our country and across our globe. The activities described in this special issue demonstrate that extension remains a vital, critical service by which to improve the experience of individuals, communities, and our nation. Many communities face acute and chronic water related challenges across the U.S. in both times of crises and everyday life. Access to clean water is vital, yet sometimes not given the critical attention it deserves, due to assumptions of a robust water treatment and delivery system in the U.S. This is especially demonstrated by those who themselves are not subject to questionable water quality or supply in their routine activities and homes. However, according to a recent analysis by Mueller and Gasteyer (2021), approximately 490,000 households in the U.S. lack complete plumbing and have poor overall water quality. Many of these households are associated with rural locations, Indigenous populations, and social dimensions surrounding poverty, education, and age (Mueller and Gasteyer 2021). Water related challenges are exacerbated by the global climate crisis and associated impacts such as more frequent natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods. Extension offers opportunities to link community, local, state, and national government agencies; non-profits; and industry with university capacity and resources to better understand and address water resources issues in the communities in which we live, work, and play. Given the complex and interrelated nature of the water-related issues currently faced, including the resulting social and economic dilemmas and inequities, the need for water extension has never been more paramount. After all, water is needed for every aspect of life, directly or indirectly. Because the necessity is so great, and extension provides a pathway to broadly empower action and change, the editorial team sought to highlight a diverse set of water-related extension efforts at multiple scales and geographic locations. This work demonstrates the impact of extension work being done across our nation now, and highlights the importance and need for more integration of extension across all research, management, and policy endeavors. This issue provides specific research and outreach examples by which extension is addressing on-the-ground water resources challenges and supporting actionable community change. If we are to meet the needs of our changing world and society, it will require the full extension enterprise (including Cooperative Extension, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Sea Grant College Program, and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources Research Institutes and Centers, among others). The Cooperative Extension System includes a network of education and extension agents in each state. This network of faculty and staff experts largely work within the Land Grant University System. The National Sea Grant College Program includes a network of more than 500 ontheground extension specialists and agents who are trusted experts and have earned a reputation as conveyors of science-based information within their communities. Sea Grant extension specialists and agents are part of a network of professionals, including communicators and educators, who connect university resources and expertise with local communities and user groups in 34 coastal and Laurentian Great Lakes states, as well as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI). The USGS Water Resources Research Institutes and Centers provide outreach, technology transfer, and education services based on the research conducted in their respective states and communities to aid in the resolution of state and regional water problems. One Water Resources Institute or Center exists in each of the 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. Here too, through programs in Hawai'i and Guam, programmatic content and activity spans the USAPI. This issue presents five original research articles and five case studies. The original research spans the U.S. geographically and socioeconomically from Vermont, Ohio, and California to Texas and also includes one paper that focuses on a project in Columbia. The case studies include two examples with national scope, along with state-based studies from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Mississippi and Alabama. Topics addressed include a breadth of critical water resources concerns from water quality (including harmful algal blooms, environmental plastic pollution, and drinking water contaminants) to implementation of best management practices, conservation agreements, a serious game that addresses nonpoint source pollution and resilience, a fellowship program, an urban stormwater research program, and oyster aquaculture. These manuscripts offer exceptional examples of extension, with contributions representing multiple extension enterprise organizations. They also demonstrate the diversity of water resources challenges and the myriad ways extension is being used to address those challenges. A short synopsis of each paper is provided below. We hope you find yourself informed and inspired by the work of these dedicated extension scholars. Vaughan et al. describe how Lake Champlain has witnessed an increase in cyanobacteria blooms, impacting public health and recreation. A lake-wide cyanobacteria monitoring program has existed since 2000. However, advances in science and technology have brought programmatic changes to sampling efforts and the communication of risks. The article follows the evolution of the program and highlights the shift in focus to a qualitative approach, consisting of visual assessments, ground-truthed by water samples. Expanding monitoring, communication, and inclusion of a greater number of stakeholders has improved the monitoring program. Community volunteers generate timely data on bloom conditions, strengthening the geographic coverage of the program and the environmental literacy of lake users. Talley et al. developed a community science program model to recruit, retain, and educate diverse populations in a study about trash in an urban watershed. The program was piloted, and found that recruitment strategies were successful, and that environmental stewardship was increased. In addition, the programs collected data about the trash found in the urban watershed, showing that the sources included homeless encampments, illegal dumping, and flow from stormwater drains. The study offers critical advancements in understanding how to empower diverse populations to contribute to, influence, use, and participate in science. Berthold, Olsovsky, and Schramm describe research to understand if direct mailing educational materials to landowners in Lavaca County, Texas could be used as an effective outreach approach to increase adoption of best management practices. They implemented a mass mailing campaign that included four mailings with the same messaging to more than 4900 landowners over approximately six months. Their findings showed that the mailings were effective in increasing the adoption of best management practices. Bartolotta and Hardy utilize mixed methods to explore consumer support for, evaluate the ramifications of, and ascertain the effectiveness of a plastic bag ban in Cleveland, Ohio. The research showed that participants were supportive of limiting access to plastic bags, and that most individuals had access to reusable bags. However, they also found that voluntary reduction in plastic bag use by consumers was not effective, indicating that restrictive store policies or legislation would be required to reduce the use of plastic bags. This study contributes to the understanding of best management practices in implementing potential plastic bag bans. Meza Prado et al. analyze the goals and motivations of upstream actors in a watershed investment program in Columbia to show the benefits for and contributions of those actors in addition to downstream participants. While upstream actors found value in the conservation benefits, they were also motivated by personal and community goals. As the program took time to build trust in this rural community, researchers learned how upstream participants' goals and motivations could be used to help downstream actors engage in more productive and equitable ways with upstream participants. This study offers useful lessons for watershed managers in recognizing the efforts of local landowners and connecting up and downstream actors. Janasie, Deans, and Harris review efforts by the National Sea Grant Law Center to increase awareness and understanding of the legal framework for drinking water protection in regard to three contaminants: lead, nitrates, and PFAS. The team conducted comprehensive legal research, identified gaps and potential solutions, and finally developed outreach programing to inform stakeholders for each contaminant. The outreach approaches were specific to the audiences most in need of information to inform critical decisions related to that contaminant. The case study offers synergies between the legal analysis and extension by introducing readers to the legal analysis and solutions and by engaging stakeholders through an informed decision-making process. Bareford et al. chronicle a case study where a multi-method needs assessment was conducted to identify water quality and management challenges in U.S. coastal regions and inform the expansion of a serious game to include coastal watersheds. Results showed high agreement among assessment methodologies regarding the most critical coastal challenges and important land uses to feature in the game. The results were used to produce a new model of an existing serious game that helps teach adults about how land use choices impact water quality and resilience to flooding across an entire watershed basin. Voter et al. detail an adaptive fellowship model for early-career researchers in water resources. The fellowship allows post-masters and post-doctoral fellows to lead research projects focusing on high priority challenges identified by governmental agencies. The fellows receive mentorship from academic and agency personnel, and co-produce actionable knowledge. The model has proven to be a “win” for the fellows, the university, state agency partners, and the stakeholders that ultimately use the knowledge produced. The manuscript describes the model from the perspective of the fellows, agency mentors, and the university, and offers insights on how the model could be adapted for use in other states. Bilotta and Peterson describe a collaborative process which developed a research program in urban stormwater management. The program obtains funding and engages diverse entities to build partnerships and identify strategic priorities for research. It then oversees a research competition and aids in the transfer of technology developed from the funded research. The program is a robust, comprehensive, and well-funded urban stormwater research program that advances science that embraces a collaboration of stormwater practitioners, policymakers, and professional researchers. The program has the potential to serve as a model of stormwater research collaboration, and could grow to address local, regional, and national needs. Walton and Swann present the unique approach and investments by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium to develop commercial off-bottom oyster aquaculture (COOA) in Alabama and Mississippi. The program utilized a network of partnerships, collaborations with other Sea Grant programs, Cooperative Extension, and stakeholders to establish COOA farms along the coast of the northern Gulf of Mexico. The core model can be used to leverage additional support from other funding agencies, helping to exponentially increase outcomes and impacts across the community. By combining applied research projects on farms, Extension projects, and outreach efforts, the approach demonstrates that COOA farms can yield measurable outcomes with significant impacts in coastal communities. This issue was funded in part by a grant/cooperative agreement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Project A/AS-1, which is sponsored by the University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, SOEST, under Institutional Grant No. NA18OAR4170076 from NOAA Office of Sea Grant, Department of Commerce. The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or any of its subagencies. UNIHI-SEAGRANT-JC-21-07. Karen Bareford, Ph.D. (corresponding author) is the Sea Grant Water Resources Lead. Karen works for the University of Alabama, in conjunction with the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. She is working to develop a roadmap for Sea Grant water resources initiatives and improve communication and coordination across the network and among key partners. Prior to her current position, Karen spent more than 15 years working in coastal and ocean conservation and management, coastal planning, and in facilitating access to critical water data to inform local planning. Karen has a Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning, a Master of Science in outdoor recreation, and a Bachelor of Science in public affairs. She can be contacted at kjbareford@ua.edu or via mail at Alabama Water Institute, Box 870206, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0206. Mary J. Donohue, Ph.D. is the Program Development and National Partnership Specialist at the University of Hawai'i Sea Grant College Program. Her prior position was as a Federal Research Biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. She has served as an invited subject matter expert on two National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committees and associated reports. In 2021, she served as senior author on a strategic vision document for the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources Research Act Program (WRRAP) that will guide and direct national activities of the WRRAP for the next ten years. She can be contacted at donohuem@hawaii.edu or via mail at The University of Hawai'i Sea Grant College Program HIG 238, Honolulu, HI, 96822. Michael Mezzacapo, M.S. is a research affiliate in environmental policy at The University of Hawai'i Water Resources Research Center and Hawai'i Sea Grant College Program. His professional interests include water quality, human health, and behavioral change. Michael was appointed to the State of Hawai'i Cesspool Conversion Workgroup in 2019 and is assisting with the development of a statewide outreach plan and prioritization and upgrade scheme to convert the state's cesspools. He can be contacted at mmezz@hawaii.edu or via mail at The University of Hawai'i Water Resources Research Center 2540 Dole St., Holmes Hall 283, Honolulu, HI 96822. Darren T. Lerner, Ph.D. is director of the Hawai'i Sea Grant College Program, guiding and overseeing a program of research, extension, and education in Hawai'i and the USAPI. He also serves as Consortium Director for the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center and affiliate research faculty at the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology. Lerner earned his bachelor's degree in political science (minor in psychology) from the University of Missouri, master's degree in zoology from Oregon State University, and Ph.D. in organismic and evolutionary biology from the University of Massachusetts. He moved to Hawai'i in 2006 and was hired by Hawai'i Sea Grant in 2007. He can be contacted at lerner@hawaii.edu or via mail at The University of Hawai'i Sea Grant College Program HIG 238, Honolulu, HI, 96822.

Abstract Since 2006 the Watershed Game, a role‐playing simulation and serious game focused on managing nonpoint source pollution at the watershed scale, has been used across the U.S. to improve understanding of, commitment to, and involvement in watershed‐scale management. Stakeholder or student participants manage a fictitious watershed to meet a “Clean Water Goal.” Designed for freshwater watersheds, the game is available in local leader and classroom versions, and play is led by trained facilitators or educators. To inform the expansion of the Watershed Game to include coastal watersheds, a needs assessment was conducted to identify water quality and management challenges in coastal regions, using the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic as a case study. Several methods for assessing critical coastal management challenges and key land uses to prioritize in the game were employed: a review of reports, expert focus group, survey of Gulf and South Atlantic regional experts, second survey of coastal experts from the National Sea Grant Network to verify widespread applicability, and finally pilot tests of the draft game. Results showed high agreement among assessment methodologies regarding the most critical coastal challenges and important land uses to feature in the game. As a result, the Coast Model of the Watershed Game focuses on three primary nonpoint source pollutants, excess nitrogen, excess phosphorus, and excess sediment. Additionally, results indicated a need to integrate a new game element, resilience to flooding, which has been added to the challenge of winning the game by meeting the Clean Water Goal.

Abstract Objective Understanding the spatial connectivity of elasmobranch populations is critical for regional fisheries management. The Blacktip Shark Carcharhinus limbatus is abundant in coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and important in recreational and commercial fisheries. Based on genetic and tagging studies, GoM Blacktip Sharks are currently managed under separate quotas between the eastern and western GoM (divided at 88°W), but no studies have used vertebral chemistry to assess the population structure of adult Blacktip Sharks. Methods We compared vertebral elemental signatures (barium [Ba], magnesium [Mg], manganese [Mn], strontium [Sr], and zinc [Zn]) for the first year of life with last occupied habitats (vertebral edges) in Blacktip Sharks collected from the western (Texas and Louisiana) and eastern (Alabama and Florida) coastal waters of the northern GoM. Result We found significant regional differences in Ba, Mg, Mn, and Sr vertebral edge signatures, suggesting ecological separation of Blacktip Sharks. Significant correlation between first-year and edge signatures suggested a high degree of residency between life stages. Cross-validated discriminant function analyses yielded highest regional classification accuracies when Florida sharks were grouped separately west of 88°W (90%), demonstrating the unique elemental signatures of eastern versus western GoM Blacktip Sharks under current management delineations. Conclusion Combined, these findings demonstrate that trace element markers can distinguish regional populations of Blacktip Sharks and provide a complimentary approach in addition to genetics and physical tagging to support current stock management efforts. Abstract Impact statement Stocks of Blacktip Sharks are managed under separate quotas in the eastern and western Gulf of Mexico. In this study, elemental signatures in mineralized vertebral cartilage of Blacktip Sharks confirm ecological population separation. Natural chemical tags in shark vertebrae offer an additional tool to characterize population connectivity and stock delineation for highly migratory shark species.

Determining the distributions of marine animals is a challenge, particularly for highly migratory species like sharks. In the United States, several shark populations are beginning to recover following exploitation, including the white shark ( Carcharodon carcharias ). Recently, reports of white sharks have increased in the northern Gulf of Mexico (hereafter Gulf), but determining whether these reports represent actual changes in distribution is difficult. Therefore, we examined two long-term fishery-independent camera datasets to assess whether the recent increase in reports of white sharks reflects changes in distribution or typical (albeit rare) events. Long-term fishery-independent stereo-baited remote underwater video (sBRUV) and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) datasets were examined. From 2010 – 2024, 8368 sBRUV and 2199 ROV surveys were conducted. From 2010 – 2023, no white sharks were seen on either camera gear, but two white sharks were observed on ROV videos in 2024. The first was a female estimated at 239 cm total length and the second was a male estimated at 191 cm total length. These observations lend support to the notion that recent reports of white sharks in the northern Gulf may indicate early evidence of range-edge expansion rather than increases in telemetry efforts or citizen observations. Studies like this one highlight the value of long-term, randomized, fishery-independent camera surveys for documenting changes in distribution for rare species.

Abstract Shark depredation on target species in US Atlantic recreational fisheries is a growing source of human-wildlife conflict. Efforts to mitigate this conflict require an understanding of how its three principal components—anglers, fisheries, and sharks—have evolved over time. Through a historical perspective, we offer a conceptual framework that characterizes the dynamics of these components in the context of complex management systems for the affected fisheries. Specifically, we integrated observations of shark depredation from the published literature, angler surveys, and social media content to provide a comprehensive overview of the breadth of shark depredation in recreational fisheries in US Atlantic waters from Maine to Texas, and the US Caribbean. This exercise revealed that shark depredation is widespread, with 207 unique target-depredator connections (at least 51 target species impacted by 22 shark depredators). The most prevalent shark depredators included both authorized species that may be harvested (e.g. bull sharks Carcharhinus leucas) and prohibited species that may not (e.g. sandbar sharks C. plumbeus). This broad characterization further clarifies the actors (anglers, fisheries, sharks, and managers) that should be considered in ongoing efforts to establish valid shark depredation solutions, evaluates mitigation options given US regulatory constraints, and identifies priorities for future research.

ABSTRACT Recreational fisheries are dynamic and complex social–ecological systems with many actors and threats, both real and perceived. Challenges related to the management of recreational fisheries may be attributed to tensions and misunderstandings among anglers and agencies charged with regulation and enforcement. Fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) is a semiquantitative way to capture and share the perceptions of different stakeholders and can be a useful tool for revealing issues and tensions in recreational fisheries. Our paper aims to use our experience with FCM workshops focused on shark depredation to reveal the benefits and challenges behind this process. Specifically, we held two in-person workshops that included FCM-building exercises to gain perspectives on beliefs and perceptions about depredation, one with anglers to capture their on-water local ecological knowledge and the other with fisheries managers and scientists. We implemented two different FCM methodologies to capture perceptions among stakeholder groups to understand potential barriers to mitigating shark depredation. Although FCM can uncover subtleties within complex systems and build trust between managers and stakeholders, its use, adoption, and implementation are potentially hampered by its seemingly complex approach and subjectivity. Coproducing FCMs for shark depredation showcased the benefits of shared learning opportunities among stakeholders, managers, and scientists. Collectively, we hope that our experiences with FCM and the process we reveal can act as a catalyst for other opportunities where such methods can be used to establish a shared understanding of the complexities of recreational fisheries and highlight paths to hone outreach and management.