The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) is one of 28 reserves within the National Estuarine Research Reserve system and is located in extreme southeastern Mississippi in Jackson County near the small community of Pecan. The NERR is comprised of approximately 18,000 acres, found chiefly within the Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge and the Grand Bay Savanna Coastal Preserve. This r
eserve contains a variety of wetland habitats, both tidal and non-tidal, such as pine savannas, salt marshes, saltpans, bays and bayous as well as terrestrial habitats that are unique to the coastal zone such as maritime forests. Healthy estuarine salt marshes and fire-maintained pine savannas are some of the most biodiverse habitats in North America, and the reserve is fortunate enough to contain considerable amounts of both. These habitats support many important species of fish and wildlife. Commercially and recreationally important species of finfish and shellfish such as brown shrimp, speckled trout and oysters abound here. Sea turtles, bottlenose dolphin and, on occasion, manatees can be found in the deeper waters of the reserve. Many species of carnivorous plants and orchids can be found in the higher savanna habitats.
