Abstract

Global oyster abundance has decreased by 85% in the last century (Beck et al. 2011). The northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) has historically maintained large eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica; hereinafter referred to as “oyster”) populations but have also been in decline, especially within the coastal waters of Mississippi. Therefore, oyster reef creation and enhancement has become common, but their impacts on transient fish, which only occasionally use reefs/reef adjacent habitat is unclear. We quantified potential infaunal prey availability and transient fish (Sheepshead, Black Drum, and the federally-protected, Gulf Sturgeon) use of two subsystems in the Mississippi Sound (St. Louis Bay; BSL, and Pascagoula Bay; PB) prior to an oyster reef construction project.