National Sea Grant Law Center
The National Sea Grant Law Center facilitates the development of new policies, institutional capacities, and management approaches to guide the preservation and use of coastal, ocean and Great Lakes resources. The Center provides legal research, outreach, and education on coastal development issues such as working waterfronts, recreation and tourism, resource use, and coastal access.
Sea Grant is a partnership between the nation’s universities and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that began in 1966, when the U.S. Congress determined there was a unique opportunity to use university expertise to solve today’s marine environmental problems. By funding universities in coastal and Great Lakes states through “sea grants,” Congress created the National Sea Grant College Program which now works with 30 state programs to encourage the wise stewardship of our marine resources through research, education, outreach and technology transfer.
The National Sea Grant Law Center was established in 2002 to “coordinate and enhance Sea Grant's activities in legal scholarship and outreach related to coastal and ocean law issues.” For over a decade, the NSGLC at the University of Mississippi School of Law has fulfilled its five major responsibilities, as identified by the National Sea Grant Office: (1) integrating the efforts of ocean and coastal law researchers and users in the Sea Grant network nationwide; (2) conducting research on current ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes law issues; (3) providing outreach and advisory services to the Sea Grant network and coastal constituents; (4) disseminating information and analysis through periodic workshops and conferences as well as publications, and (5) serving as a focal point for Sea Grant’s law-related issues and promoting the growth and development of a Sea Grant legal network.
Law Center attorneys contribute to the field of ocean and coastal law and policy through the analysis of current issues and the publication of their research results. Center attorneys participate in continuing education programs, conferences, and symposia which serve to educate policy makers, practitioners and laypersons on issues of marine resources policy issues. Attorneys also train law students in the field of ocean and coastal law.
With a focus on hazard resilient coastal communities, Sea Grant uses its integrated research, training, and technical assistance capabilities, and its presence in coastal communities to play a major role in helping local citizens, decision-makers, and industries plan for hazardous events and optimize the ability of their communities to respond and rebuild.
The Ocean & Coastal Case Alert is a monthly newsletter highlighting recent court decisions impacting ocean and coastal resource management. The SandBar is a quarterly publication reporting on legal issues affecting the U.S. oceans and coasts. Its goal is to increase awareness and understanding of coastal problems and issues.
Primary funding for the National Sea Grant Law Center is provided by the National Sea Grant College Program, which is part of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Additional support is provided by the University of Mississippi School of Law and the Mississippi Law Research Institute.
Phone: (662) 915-7775
Related Organizations:
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- University of Mississippi
Related Resources:
- The Resilient Coast: Policy Frameworks for Adapting the Built Environment to Climate Change and Growth in Coastal Areas of the U.S. Gulf of Mexico
- Coastal Management in the Face of Rising Seas: Legal Strategies for Connecticut
- Coastal Management in the Face of Rising Seas: Legal Strategies for Connecticut
