Ep.07 Jeremy Higgs: The Science Behind Marlin Tournaments with the University of Southern Mississippi

Summary

Jeremy Higgs, assistant director at the Center for Fisheries and Research Development at the University of Southern Mississippi, discusses his work in fisheries research. He talks about his background and how he fell in love with the research opportunities in the Gulf Coast. Jeremy explains his role at the Research Center and the various projects he manages, including larval shrimp studies, offshore billfish work, bull shark life history study, and oyster reef work. He also discusses the importance of oyster reefs for the ecosystem and the sport fish species that rely on them. The conversation explores the different species of fish studied in fisheries research, including swordfish, marlin, tuna, mahi, wahoo, and more. The researchers discuss the unique characteristics and behaviors of these fish, such as their feeding habits, visual adaptations, and growth rates. They also touch on the importance of studying these rare event species and the collaborative efforts between scientists and anglers. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the handling and donation of fish samples after they are brought back to the dock.

Keywords

fisheries research, Gulf Coast, larval shrimp, billfish, bull shark, oyster reef, ecosystem, fisheries research, swordfish, marlin, tuna, mahi, wahoo, feeding habits, visual adaptations, growth rates, rare event species, collaborative efforts, handling fish samples, donation

Takeaways

• The Gulf Coast offers a wealth of research opportunities in fisheries, both inshore and offshore.
• Oyster reefs play a crucial role in the ecosystem, providing habitat and food sources for sport fish species.
• Jeremy Higgs manages various research projects, including larval shrimp studies, billfish work, bull shark life history study, and oyster reef work.
• Collaboration with fishermen, scientists, and other institutions is essential in gathering data and understanding fish species.
• Sampling and analyzing fish specimens at fishing tournaments provide valuable insights into reproductive biology, age determination, and diet composition. Different species of fish, such as swordfish, marlin, tuna, mahi, and wahoo, are studied in fisheries research.
• These fish have unique characteristics and behaviors, including feeding habits, visual adaptations, and growth rates.
• Studying rare event species is important for their long-term management and conservation.
• Collaboration between scientists and anglers is crucial in gathering data and samples for research.
• After sampling, the fish are handled and donated to organizations for various purposes, such as rehabilitation and feeding birds of prey.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background 02:26 Research Opportunities in the Gulf Coast 04:19 The Importance of Oyster Reefs 08:13 Managing Research Projects 15:12 Collaboration in the Scientific Community 32:12 Exploring the Diversity of Fish in Fisheries Research 34:08 Understanding the Feeding Habits and Adaptations of Pelagic Fish 37:57 The Significance of Studying Rare Event Species 41:44 Collaboration between Scientists and Anglers in Fisheries Research 56:38 Handling and Donation of Fish Samples in Fisheries Research

 

USM Center for Fisheries Research and Development

 

Transcript:

Katie (00:00.206) What's up, you guys? Today's podcast is a special treat. Today I have Jeremy Higgs, the assistant director at the Center for Fisheries and Research Development at the University of Southern Mississippi. I met Jeremy on site at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic last year as he was taking all of these incredible samples from these massive blue marlin coming to the dock. Stay posted. You're not going to want to miss it.

Katie (00:33.134) Welcome to the KDC Sawyer podcast. I'm your host Katie. And today I have the pleasure of sitting down with Jeremy Higgs. Jeremy, thank you so much for joining us. Thank you for the opportunity to be on the show today. I really appreciate it. Now, Jeremy, you're the assistant director over at the research center. How long have you been at USM? I've been with USM about 14 years. Different roles in my time here as research technician up to where I'm at now as assistant director of fisheries.

That's awesome. Where did you come from before USM? I did my undergraduate work at Southwestern College in a little town in Kansas. We had to do a summer field session at a marine lab. There was a flyer in our lobby and it was for the Gulf Coast Research Lab and it was a first SHERC class. I came down here on a fluke and absolutely fell in love, did a summer of coursework here, and then did an internship and then came back to do graduate school.

and then start working in fisheries. That's awesome. Now, did you use the word flu