NOAA commissions fisheries survey ship - al.com

NOAA commissions fisheries survey ship - al.com: "PASCAGOULA — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Friday commissioned an advanced fisheries survey vessel and dedicated a new fisheries laboratory.

Locally, the VT Halter Marine-built Pisces will study commercially significant species such as shrimp, red snapper and grouper, said Bonnie Ponwith, director of the Southeast Fisheries Science Center in Miami.

'Seafood is a very big thing in the Gulf of Mexico,' she said. 'When families want to celebrate a special event on the Gulf Coast, they go out for seafood. We want to make sure that seafood is safe and harvested in a way that is sustainable.'"