Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant

In this week’s Staff Blog, Stephen Deal, our land use planning extension specialist, tells us about the upcoming Community Rating System (CRS) Workshop on Nov. 7, in downtown Mobile, Alabama. 📅

Learn how your community can improve its flood protection measures through the Program for Public Information, score more CRS points and unlock flood insurance premium discounts for residents. 💡💧

This workshop will provide:
✅ Overview of the CRS
✅ Guidance on structuring your flood outreach strategy
✅ Hands-on PPI documentation creation
✅ Free registration and continuing education credits

🔗 https://bit.ly/3ZnejE0

Keep in mind some Dos and DON’Ts for operating your generator during a storm.

Do:
- Ensure you have enough fuel for your generator before a storm makes landfall.
- Ensure extension cords are properly rated for the load, not damaged, approved for outdoor use, and have three-pronged plugs.
- Only run essential appliances when needed.
- Operate your generator outside away from your home in an area with good ventilation.
- Keep the generator dry and on firm ground.
- Shut off the generator and allow it to cool before refueling.
- Keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case of a fire.

Don’t
- Run a generator indoors or in a garage, even if near an open window because of the possibility of carbon monoxide gas.
- Overload the generator.
- Store gasoline for the generator indoors.

Rusty Grice, our oyster aquaculture business specialist (also of Alabama Extension), was busy this morning!

Check out this week’s Staff Blog! Samantha Capers from our extension and education team (and USM Gulf Coast Research Lab's Marine Education Center) shares her transformative experience as part of the Education Network's exchange program.🌱🌍

After escaping the South Mississippi heat (only to find herself in a heat wave in Burlington, Vermont 😅), Samantha boarded the R/V Marcelle Melosira on Lake Champlain for hands-on learning as a participant in the Watershed Action Through Research (WATR) program.

From studying fish behavior to exploring innovative conservation research, Samantha gained insights that she’s eager to bring back to the Mississippi-Alabama Gulf Coast. 🌿🐟

Her adventure highlights the powerful connection between education and science, bridging the gap between Lake Champlain and our own waters here at home. 🌊❤️

🔗 https://bit.ly/4gtHJ9Z

🚨 🚨 Abstracts deadline extended! 🚨 🚨

Great news! Our program committee has extended the abstracts submission deadline until next Friday.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this Gulf science event at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center in Biloxi on Nov. 19-20, 2024.

We welcome scientists, natural resource professionals, students, business leaders, educators, policy-makers, and others to submit abstracts in our topical tracks:

🌊 Building Resilience to Challenges
🌿 Conserving and Restoring Critical Habitats
🌍 Enhancing Stewardship and Sustainability
🦪 The Oyster is Your World
🐟 Understanding and Managing Living Resources
💧 Understanding the Ways of the Water

Submit your work and contribute to the future of the Gulf of Mexico region! Students can compete for the 2024 Mike deGruy Bays and Bayous Symposium Student Presentation Awards with prizes up to $300! 🎓💵

More about the symposium tracks: https://bbs24.dryfta.com/abstracts

Thanks to our symposium sponsors: Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, U.S. EPA Gulf of Mexico Division, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University Geosystems Research Institute, Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation, Neel-Schaffer, Inc. and Stantec.

🚀 Our COAST Resilience Institute is halfway through our one-year journey of equipping community leaders with science-based strategies for resilience! 🌊🌳

In this week's Staff Blog, our Qiyamah Williams, also of the Program for Local Adaptation to Climate Effects and Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center, talks about what the resilience institute has accomplished and what's next.

From local workshops to virtual sessions, our collaborative team has been making waves in enhancing decision-making and building resilient communities. 🌎💪

Qiyamah's blog post will let you know more about the program: https://bit.ly/3XmNFtE

National Sea Grant College Program, ,

Submit your abstracts now!

The sixth track for the symposium is “Understanding the Ways of the Water.”

The call for abstracts closes Friday!

🌊🌧️ Water quality impairment through natural or anthropogenic input alters the livelihoods of people who live and work in estuarine watersheds; maintaining good water quality requires managing recreational, commercial and industrial interests that all depend on these water bodies.

🌍💧☀️ In this track, we invite researchers, resource managers, policymakers and community members to share knowledge on topics related to assessing alterations to water quality and quantity, determining how changes to terrestrial, aquatic and marine activities affect water quality, developing coastal improvements or remediation strategies to address water quality stressors/impairments, addressing water quality and quantity issues in formal and informal education, and fostering behavioral change to protect water quality.

Topics related to the interaction between water quality and estuarine benefits/ecosystem services are particularly encouraged.

More about this track (and the others): baysandbayous.org/abstracts

Thanks to our sponsors: Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, U.S. EPA Gulf of Mexico Division, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University Geosystems Research Institute, Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation, Neel-Schaffer, Inc. and Stantec!

Tracie Sempier, our resilience engagement lead, gave a plenary address today at the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association National Coastal Conference in Galveston. The title of her presentation was “A Resilient Future: Translating Science to Enhance Decision Making.”

Abstracts are due FRIDAY for this Gulf of Mexico symposium that will be held in Biloxi on Nov. 19-20!

Our fifth track is “Understanding and Managing Living Resources."

🌱🌊Ensuring resource sustainability in the Gulf of Mexico often requires a balance between diverse interests and the continued development of data, models and management policies that result in long-term benefits.

This track will focus on the applied ecology and management of living resources in the coastal and marine waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

📈🔢 Potential presentation topics include research that addresses management questions necessary for Gulf of Mexico sustainability, either at the species or ecosystem level. Presentations for this track will allow the research community, private sector, community action groups, resource managers and NGOs to share knowledge with coastal decision-makers and increase dialogue among these groups.

More about the symposium tracks: baysandbayous.org/abstracts

Thanks to our symposium sponsors: Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, U.S. EPA Gulf of Mexico Division, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University Geosystems Research Institute, Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation, Neel-Schaffer, Inc., Stantec

All about oysters!

Our symposium’s fourth track is “The Oyster is Your World.”🦪🦪🦪🌍🌍🌍 Our call for abstracts is now open.

This track will include oyster-focused topics on restoration, research, resource management, aquaculture, wild harvesting, tourism, seafood, climate changes, water quality, sea-level rise and coastal resiliency among others. If you are a consumer, farmer, scientist, student, resource manager, chef, processor, government official, part of a non-governmental organization, or have any other interest in oysters, then you are invited to participate!

More about this track (and the other five): https://bbs24.baysandbayous.org/abstracts

Thanks to symposium sponsors: Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, U.S. EPA Gulf of Mexico Division, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Northern Gulf Institute, Mississippi State University Geosystems Research Institute, Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation, Neel-Schaffer, Inc., Stantec

Please join us for this GCRL Science Café to be held at the GCRL Campus in the Caylor Building, Rm. 104

This science café can be viewed on Facebook live https://www.facebook.com/usmmarineeducationcenter
( for those who wish to attend virtually and are not on Facebook, email [email protected] for a link for virtual attendance)

Visit our website:
https://www.usm.edu/gulf-coast-research-laboratory/gcrl-science-cafe.php

Presented by: Dr. Jessica Pruett, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence

The eastern oyster plays an important role in the ecology, economy, and culture of coastal Mississippi. The Mississippi oyster industry has a long history and tradition, but the fishery has declined dramatically in recent years due to events such as Hurricane Katrina, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and freshwater flooding. This presentation will provide an overview of how the oyster resource has changed since state management began in 1902, focusing on environmental factors and nonbiological events. Present-day challenges hindering oyster population recovery in Mississippi will also be discussed, as well as the investments aimed at restoring oyster reefs and promoting the growth and development of oyster aquaculture.

Cookies, coffee, and other treats are complimentary.

Special “Thanks” to the sponsor of the Science Café, MS-AL Sea Grant, and USM’s Marine Education Center for tech support.

Join us at Bays and Bayous!

Our symposium’s third track is “Enhancing Stewardship and Sustainability.”

🌍This track welcomes all parties involved in community engagement, stewardship, environmental justice and sustainability efforts. Speakers implementing novel or innovative ways to engage diverse communities and those celebrating cultural heritage are encouraged.

Presentations sharing opportunities for students, and the broader community, to develop job-related STEM skills are also welcome.

🌱 🐚 People of the Gulf Coast are inextricably linked to the marine and coastal environment and its resources. Those strong connections fuel a sense of responsibility to protect coastal resources and to educate future generations. While looking to the future, there is much to be learned from the traditional knowledge of communities and the best practices established by scientists and community partners.

The call for abstracts closes Aug. 30.

Thanks to the symposium sponsors: Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, U.S. EPA Gulf of Mexico Division, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation, Neel-Schaffer, Inc., and Stantec.

Read more about all the tracks: https://baysandbayous.org

Look who we found at Sea Grant Week in Savannah, Georgia! It’s one of our 2024 Fellows, Hameed Ajibade (of USM School of Ocean Science and Engineering), who is working at the National Sea Grant Office focusing on renewable offshore wind energy, and one of our former Knauss Fellows and current deputy director for the National Sea Grant College Program, Kola Garber!

Here's a closer look at the "Conserving and Restoring Critical Habitats" track for Bays and Bayous. Is your program, project or research a good fit?

It’s time to highlight our second track (of six): "Conserving and Restoring Critical Habitats.”

Partnership efforts by academia, federal, state and local agencies, non-governmental organizations, industry and community groups have contributed to an increased knowledge base on restoration and conservation science.

This track highlights research, monitoring, management, policy and educational approaches to coastal and marine conservation and restoration efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. Managers are also encouraged to share their experiences of how they have utilized restoration and conservation science to inform resource planning and management and managers and researchers on how they measure restoration successes.

Read more about this track (and the other five) on the Bays and Bayous event website: https://baysandbayous.org

Thanks to our sponsors: Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, U.S. EPA Gulf of Mexico Division, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, NOAA, Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation, Neel-Schaffer, Inc., Stantec

MASGC COAST Resilience Institute Registration The COAST (Community Outreach and Strategic Training) Resilience Institute is a new training program presented by the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. This year long program is aimed at equipping leaders, municipal staff, and community decision makers in Mississippi and Alabama with the lat...

Register now for this free climate and resilience grant writing workshop that will be held Thursday, Aug. 22, at 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort, Alabama. The registration deadline is Friday.

More details: https://bit.ly/3AnpG4F

The call for abstracts closes Aug. 30. Submit yours today!

🌊📊🔬 Our call for abstracts is open! This year, there will be six topical tracks. Today, we are highlighting "Building Resilience to Challenges and Disruptions."

Topics in this track may include new research discoveries, management approaches and perspectives related to how coastal challenges and disruptions impact people and the environment. Contributors of this session are encouraged to cover topics through the lens of better understanding coastal challenges and building resilience to them.

Read more about this track and the others on the Bays and Bayous event website: https://bbs24.baysandbayous.org/abstracts

This week’s Staff Blog post from our engagement and education team member, JoAnn Moody of Dauphin Island Sea Lab - Discovery Hall Programs and Dauphin Island Sea Lab, tells the stories of five amazing Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant-supported summer environmental education interns.

🦈🔬 From unforgettable field experiences to sparking curiosity in young minds, these interns made an impact in K-12, high school and teacher programs. 🧠🌟

Discover their stories and how they're planning to use their newfound knowledge to shape the future of marine science. Bright futures ahead!

🔗 https://bit.ly/4cl9LRF

𝗔 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗹𝘂𝗯𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝗹𝗳 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲𝗿

From fly fishing to spearfishing, there is a community for everyone to grow their skills and knowledge. Our recent Extension publication highlights some saltwater fishing clubs associated with Mississippi, Alabama, and the broader Gulf Coast, including online groups!

➡️ Want to learn more? Explore these groups even further using our interactive tool: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/84d8af6a99304f099e91f33b60339392
See you on the water!

🌪️🍿 In this week's Staff Blog, Tracie Sempier (our resilience engagement lead) dives into facts vs. science fiction in the new “Twisters” movie. She takes a look at how Hollywood’s tornadoes stack up against real science when it comes to:

Fire tornadoes 🔥🌪️
Sheltering under an overpass 🚗🛤️
Taming tornadoes 🌪️

Scientists at NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have fact-checked some of the most thrilling scenes, ensuring we know what’s true and what’s Hollywood magic. ✨🎬

👉 Read the blog: https://bit.ly/3Sy1DWQ

Congrats to our assistant director for education, Tina Miller-Way, for receiving the National Marine Educators Association 2024 Marine Education Award!! Along with leading Dauphin Island Sea Lab - Discovery Hall Programs, she provides leadership for our management team, our engagement and education team, and the National Education Network!

We're accepting applications for a fiscal officer! Details: https://bit.ly/4ccDvQq

Registration is open. Sign up today to attend!

📣 Registration for the 2024 Bays and Bayous Symposium is NOW OPEN. Join us in Biloxi!

Highlights:
📊 200+ oral and poster presentations about Gulf coastal science
🦠 Keynote speakers on land conservation and harmful algal blooms
🐟 Women on the Water panel featuring women in aquaculture and commercial fishing
🥇 Student presentation awards

🔗 Register now: https://bbs24.baysandbayous.org/

A special thanks to our sponsors (Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, EPA Gulf of Mexico Division, Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation and Stantec) and our volunteer committees.

In this week's Staff Blog post by our director, LaDon Swann, you will find out when and why the Bays and Bayous Symposium started and what's in store for the 2024 event!

🔬 Join us in Biloxi, MS, on Nov. 19-20 as an attendee, presenter or both!

🦪🌿🐟 Whether you're passionate about oyster restoration, habitat conservation, community resilience, stewardship or managing living resources, there's a track for you!

🎓 Students: Don’t miss the chance to showcase your research and compete for the Mike deGruy Student Presentation Awards. 💡

Register and submit your abstracts today! 📋✨

Read more: https://bit.ly/3yb1rWC

Symposium sponsors include the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation and U.S. EPA Gulf of Mexico Division.

It’s the educator exchange, where Sea Grant educators learn from other Sea Grant programs!

❤️🦪 Love the idea of growing oysters for restoration but don’t have waterfront property? Our new Master Oyster Gardening Program offers volunteers the opportunity to learn about oysters and aid in restoration efforts as certified Master Oyster Gardeners.

🦪🌱 Master Oyster Gardeners will be able to assist in oyster gardening activities, such as pick-ups, distribution and garden maintenance without needing their own sites!

📖 Read more about this year’s inaugural program in our Staff Blog post by Conrad Horst of Alabama Extension: https://bit.ly/3YbWVBU!