Regional Links

Patnerships throughout the Gulf-region are developing between universities, governments, businesses, and others. Local non-profits are becoming more and more a part of the decision-making process in the gulf. Some of the partnerships and organizations listed below provide opportunities for collaboration with the Alliance.

Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System

Many organizations and individuals are concerned with sustained observations and/or products and services based on such observations from the estuaries and Exclusive Economic Zone of the Gulf of Mexico. A group of these entities have signed a resolution agreeing to form a Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) beginning with the integration of existing observing system elements and the sharing of non-commercial and non-proprietary data and products. This regional system will be a part of the U.S. sustained and Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). Click here to visit the GCOOS website.

Gulf of Mexico Regional Collaborative

The Gulf of Mexico Regional Collaborative (GoMRC) is a partnership of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), and Battelle/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The objective of GoMRC during 2006-2007 is to develop an integrated, operational, prototype IT infrastructure for ecosystem science, data and models for the Gulf region. The IT platform will be developed to support a broad set of applications that enable decision-makers to identify and test a range of potential options for environmental assessment, resource management, and restoration needs. To read a one page description of GoMRC, click here. To visit the GoMRC website, click here (click on the research tab to view NGI projects).

The Northern Gulf Institute

The Northern Gulf Institute (NGI) at Stennis Space Center, Mississippi was established in October 2006 and is the newest NOAA Cooperative Institute. The NGI is a consortium of universities led by Mississippi State University, in partnership with the University of Southern Mississippi, Louisiana State University, Florida State University, and Dauphin Island Sea Lab. Click here to view a one-page description of the institute. To view the institute's 9-month progress report, click here. To visit the NGI website, click here.

Assessment of Coastal Wetlands in the Gulf of Mexico

EPA is working with USGS, USFWS, and the Gulf States to develop a pilot project assessing the conition of coastal wetlands. Click here to read more about this effort.

MMS's Coastal Impact Assistance Program Guidelines

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) recently announced the availability of Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) Guidelines. The agency has provided the CIAP Guidelines to Governors and CIAP coordinators for the states of Alaska, California, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. To read more about CIAP and the guidelines, click here.

Gulf of Mexico Marine Debris Project

The 2005 hurricane season resulted in the dense littering of the Northern Gulf of Mexico nearshore environment with debris that presents hazards to safe navigation, commercial fishing, and other coastal uses. Click here to read more about the effort led by NOAA's Office of Response and Restoration and Office of Coast Survey to ensure ongoing recovery in response to the threat of submerged marine debris in the Gulf Region.

Gulf of Mexico Foundation

The mission of the Gulf of Mexico Foundation (GoMF) is to promote and facilitate conservation of the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico and its resources through education, public awareness, research, and leadership programs. Already deeply involved with the Alliance, GoMF also works with several other partners throughout the region. Click here to link to the GoMF website.

Gulf Mexico States Accord

The Accord of the States of the Gulf of Mexico was signed in the city of Campeche, Mexico on May 13, 1995 by the representatives of the eleven states of the United States and Mexico that share the Gulf of Mexico region. The objective of the Accord is to establish working partnerships among these states to promote economic and infrastructure development, as well as educational and cultural exchanges. Click here to visit the Accord website.

Gulf of Mexico Research Plan

The Gulf of Mexico Research Planning Project is one of eight Sea Grant funded, region-based research planning efforts
under way in the United States. The four GOM Sea Grant college programs (Florida Sea Grant, Louisiana Sea Grant, the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium and Texas Sea Grant) are working with state and federal agencies, universi-ties, non-profit organizations, and private industry along the GOM to prioritize research and information needs and to develop a strategic research plan. Click here to read more.

Gulf Restoration Network

The Gulf Restoration Network (GRN) is a diverse network of local, regional and national groups dedicated to protecting and restoring the valuable resources of the Gulf of Mexico. The GRN has members in the five Gulf states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and nationwide. GRN became involved with the Alliance in 2006. To link to the GRN website, click here.

Coastal America

Coastal America is an action-oriented, results-driven process aimed at restoring and preserving vital coastal ecosystems and addressing our most critical environmental issues. Several Coastal America initiatives, such as the Coastal Ecosystem Learning Centers (CELC) and the Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership (CWRP), are in line with Gulf of Mexico Alliance actions. To read more about Coastal America and find out more about their presence in the Gulf of Mexico, click here.