Abstract

The Gulf Research Institute for Highly Migratory Species (GRIHMS) was established in 2022 at Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) in attempt to bring together researchers focused on filling critical data gaps in the habitat requirements and migration pathways of large pelagic fishes in the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding waters (i.e., Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean). Researchers at TAMUG are using advanced applications such as acoustic or satellite telemetry and natural chemical tracers to identify essential fish habitat and movement patterns of top predatory fishes in offshore waters such as billfishes, tunas, and sharks as well as coastal/nearshore species (tarpon, dolphinfish, cobia, sharks). The Gulf of Mexico serves as a critical spawning, nursery and foraging area for a wide range of highly migratory species, and TAMUG is uniquely positioned with the infrastructure to lead this initiative. Resource managers acknowledge that a species’ habitat requirements and distribution in space and time are essential to developing conservation strategies that support healthy and sustainable fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, which contribute over $11 billion to the region’s blue economy. The purpose of this presentation will be to highlight ongoing projects and discuss the plan for future research activities.