The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) is a state agency of Mississippi headquartered in the Eldon Bolton State Office building in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
MDMR official logo c.2015
Type
State Government
Industry
Maritime
Founded
1994
Headquarters
1141 Bayview Avenue,
Biloxi, MS
,
USA
Area served
Jackson, Harrison, Hancock Counties
Key people
Jamie Miller, Executive Director
Kelly Lucas, Chief Scientific Officer
Melissa Scallan, Public Information Officer
Keith Davis, Chief of Marine Patrol
Number of employees
150-201
Website
www.dmr.ms.gov
It was created by the legislature as a new state agency in 1994 to manage Mississippi's coastal resources through the authority of the Commission on Marine Resources (CMR). The MDMR is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving the marine interests of Mississippi for present and future generations.[1]
Through the several offices and bureaus composing the MDMR, the agency, together with the CMR, provides public services and plays a role in administering and enforcing Mississippi Seafood Laws, the Mississippi Coastal Wetlands Protection Act, the Public Trust Tidelands Act, the Boat and Water Safety Act, the Derelict Vessel Act, the Non-Point Source Pollution Act, the Magnuson Act, the Wallop-Breaux Sportfish Restoration Act, Marine Litter Act and other state and federal mandates.[1]
The Mississippi Advisory Commission on Marine Resources has five members, appointed by the governor for four-year terms, to represent the following areas: commercial seafood processors, nonprofit environmental organizations, charter boat operators, recreational fishermen and commercial fishermen. The current members are:[2]
Ronnie Daniels, Chairman (Harrison County, Charter Boat Operators)
The Mississippi Marine Patrol is the law enforcement arm of the Department. It enforces federal and state marine laws and ordinances made by the Commission on Marine Resources. It operates to protect, preserve and conserve seafood, aquatic life and associated coastal wetland habitats in Mississippi. The Marine Patrol is also responsible for the enforcement of state and federal laws relating to boating safety, and it provides emergency assistance to incidents affecting the marine environment. The Marine Patrol comprises three divisions: Patrol, Administrative and Investigative.[3]
Corruption
In 2014, the previous director of the agency, Bill Walker, was convicted of public corruption and sentenced to five years in prison. Under Walker's leadership, the DMR spent almost $1.4 million on recreational fishing boats leased from Walker's private foundation. A former DMR employee said Walker used the boats 95 percent of the time for entertainment.[4]
References
^ abMississippi Department of Marine Resources. Website. Retrieved on March 11, 2015.
^"Commission on Marine Resources". Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
^"Marine Patrol". Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
^Lee, Anita & Michell, Justin (June 16, 2014). . Sun-Herald (Gulfport). Archived from the original on April 2, 2015.
Administrative Handbook of the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources
Gollott, R. (2008, August 20). Ethnicity in the Seafood Industry on the Mississippi Gulf Coast (Personal interview).
March 06, 2023
mississippi, department, marine, resources, mdmr, state, agency, mississippi, headquartered, eldon, bolton, state, office, building, biloxi, mississippi, mdmr, official, logo, 2015typestate, governmentindustrymaritimefounded1994headquarters1141, bayview, avenu. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources MDMR is a state agency of Mississippi headquartered in the Eldon Bolton State Office building in Biloxi Mississippi Mississippi Department of Marine ResourcesMDMR official logo c 2015TypeState GovernmentIndustryMaritimeFounded1994Headquarters1141 Bayview Avenue Biloxi MS USAArea servedJackson Harrison Hancock CountiesKey peopleJamie Miller Executive Director Kelly Lucas Chief Scientific Officer Melissa Scallan Public Information Officer Keith Davis Chief of Marine PatrolNumber of employees150 201Websitewww dmr ms govIt was created by the legislature as a new state agency in 1994 to manage Mississippi s coastal resources through the authority of the Commission on Marine Resources CMR The MDMR is dedicated to enhancing protecting and conserving the marine interests of Mississippi for present and future generations 1 Through the several offices and bureaus composing the MDMR the agency together with the CMR provides public services and plays a role in administering and enforcing Mississippi Seafood Laws the Mississippi Coastal Wetlands Protection Act the Public Trust Tidelands Act the Boat and Water Safety Act the Derelict Vessel Act the Non Point Source Pollution Act the Magnuson Act the Wallop Breaux Sportfish Restoration Act Marine Litter Act and other state and federal mandates 1 Contents 1 Miss Advisory Commission on Marine Resources 2 Marine Patrol 3 Corruption 4 References 5 External linksMiss Advisory Commission on Marine Resources EditThe Mississippi Advisory Commission on Marine Resources has five members appointed by the governor for four year terms to represent the following areas commercial seafood processors nonprofit environmental organizations charter boat operators recreational fishermen and commercial fishermen The current members are 2 Ronnie Daniels Chairman Harrison County Charter Boat Operators Natalie Guess Vice Chairman Hancock County Mississippi Nonprofit Environmental Organizations Cammack Cam A Roberds Jackson County Mississippi Recreational Sports Fishermen Vacant Commercial Fishermen Vacant Commercial Seafood ProcessorsMarine Patrol EditThe Mississippi Marine Patrol is the law enforcement arm of the Department It enforces federal and state marine laws and ordinances made by the Commission on Marine Resources It operates to protect preserve and conserve seafood aquatic life and associated coastal wetland habitats in Mississippi The Marine Patrol is also responsible for the enforcement of state and federal laws relating to boating safety and it provides emergency assistance to incidents affecting the marine environment The Marine Patrol comprises three divisions Patrol Administrative and Investigative 3 Corruption EditIn 2014 the previous director of the agency Bill Walker was convicted of public corruption and sentenced to five years in prison Under Walker s leadership the DMR spent almost 1 4 million on recreational fishing boats leased from Walker s private foundation A former DMR employee said Walker used the boats 95 percent of the time for entertainment 4 References Edit a b Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Website Retrieved on March 11 2015 Commission on Marine Resources Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Retrieved 27 July 2021 Marine Patrol Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Retrieved 18 December 2020 Lee Anita amp Michell Justin June 16 2014 Bill Walker gets maximum prison time in DMR fraud conviction Sun Herald Gulfport Archived from the original on April 2 2015 External links Edit Mississippi portal Environment portalOfficial MDWFP Freshwater Fishing Regulations Administrative Handbook of the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources Gollott R 2008 August 20 Ethnicity in the Seafood Industry on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Personal interview Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mississippi Department of Marine Resources amp oldid 1035845400, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
