PASCAGOULA - For the first time, Washington lawmakers are committing big money to the study of declining stocks of billfish.

That makes local sport fishers happy.

But U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, R-Pascagoula, is having to play hardball to make sure the $2.5 million doesn't end up socked away with the Oceanic Conservation Organization, a Texas nonprofit that some suggest isn't the best place for the money.

"We are unaware of any billfish research undertaken by anyone with this nonprofit," said Ellen Peel, director of The Billfish Foundation in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

In an effort to restrict a proposal by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison that would send the money to the Brownsville, Texas-based OCO, Lott last week put a hold on the nomination of Michael Gallagher to be assistant Commerce Department secretary for communications and information. The move was nothing against Gallagher or his qualifications, said Lee Youngblood, Lott's press secretary, but was meant to signal to the Commerce Department that the senator is serious in his objection.

"Being from the Coast, he works a lot of fisheries issues," Youngblood said. "And he saw a situation that needed a clarification."

The omnibus appropriations bill to be voted on in January commits the $2.5 million to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for billfish research. And a portion of that money could end up at a National Marine Fisheries station in Pascagoula.

Billfish species include blue and white marlin, swordfish and sailfish, but some researchers suggest that marlin in particular have suffered from overfishing in part by foreign commercial vessels.

Peel said she supported Lott's position, referring to the Miami office of the National Marine Fisheries as "command central" for billfish research in the United States.

David Fayard, president of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Big Game Club, was grateful for the involvement of Lott and The Billfish Foundation.

"I know they've helped the whole sportfishing industry tremendously," he said.

While Fayard said he hasn't seen a noticeable decline of the big fish stocks during his six years on the water, he said the Big Game Club's membership was strictly "tag and release" fishing which then shares its data with the foundation.

Meanwhile, Peel said that having the money controlled by the National Marine Fisheries would offer a greater degree of accountability than a nonprofit would.

"Once the money goes to Miami, then all entities, any nonprofit, any recreational, any academic, any green group, anyone who has a credible scientific proposal, can be reviewed."