In 1994, the Mississippi Legislature created the Department of Marine Resources as a separate governing agency to enhance, protect and conserve marine interests of the state. We manage all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas, and provide for the balanced commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Abandoned vessels ranging in size from 10 to over 200 feet currently are in the coastal wetlands across the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast. In areas of heavy use by commercial and recreational boaters, the derelicts are hazardous to navigation and detrimental to the wetland environment.
State law exists to resolve the problem.
Before Tidelands Trust Funds became available, no vessels were removed because the financial burden was on the local governments. The DMR now has the legislative mandate and funds to clean up our coastal wetlands and navigable waterways. As commercial shrimping, oystering and crabbing grows and the population of boaters increases, the number of derelict vessels also increases. Several vessels have been removed since the statute was enacted both by legal notification and working with the owners. 23 derelict vessels of unknown ownership have been removed by the DMR since the program began in May of 1998.