USM takes a bite out of Shark Week

Sunday kicked off the Discovery Channel’s notorious ‘Shark Week’ and the University of Southern Mississippi decided to swim into the frenzy by creating their very own ‘Shark Week.’

In gulfport, gabby cox, news 25- - - - - sunday kicked off the discovery- channel's - notorious shark week, - university of southern- mississippi decided to swim - into the frenzy by creating - their very own shark week.- you're looking at photos taken- by jill hendon and her crew.- she is the interim director of- the center for fisheries- research and development at usm- the goal for usm's shark week i- to inform others of the - research conducted in ocean - springs at the gulf coast - research lab.

- the mississippi sound has some- of the greatest shark diversity- in the northern gulf of mexico.- it's home to over nine differen- species of sharks - regularly but other species do- migrate in.

- normally, usm celebrates shark- week a little bit - differently but this year due t- covid their summer camp for - kids "shark fest' was canceled and their summer field program- that is typically a hands on- experience for students had to- be made virtually.- - jill hendon, center for - fisheries research- and development:- "normally during shark week we have a lot of public outreach.- we have a big event at- - - - the new orleans aquarium as wel- as many events around here with- the library.- those have not been possible- because of covid, so were tryin- to do an extra media- push so we can reach out to - those people."

- - - to take a dive into usm's shark- week, check out the usm school- of ocean science and engineerin- and the usm shark research- program facebook pages.

- they will be posting fun facts,- quizzes, and crafts to-