News

Litter Gitter project results are in

Nearly 32 pounds of trash headed for the Gulf of Mexico was intercepted recently as part of a Gulf Star project led by the Pontchartrain Conservancy. An Osprey Initiative Litter Gitter was used to collect the trash, which included 51% plastic and 26% Styrofoam. A very large portion of the plastic that was collected was water bottles, so be sure to use refillable bottle when possible!

This project was funded by Gulf Star partner Hess.

Learn about the Water Resources Team

GOMA staff celebrates Gulf Star partnerships

On a recent visit to Texas, GOMA staff hand delivered Gulf Star Partnership Awards to several of our newest Gulf Star partners CITGO, Motiva, and Oxy.

Funds from these partners are being used for a variety of projects that benefit the environment and the communities that depend on the Gulf. Thanks so much to our Gulf Star partners!

Learn about the Gulf Star Program

Welcome to Alma Robichaux

The Gulf of Mexico Alliance is pleased to welcome Alma Robichaux as our new Program Coordinator heading up the Alliance's new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion internship program as well as supporting the Education and Engagement Team. Alma has been working with GOMA for 10+ years as an member of the Education and Engagement Team and the Marine Debris Cross-Team. She received several Gulf Star grants to educate students (future leaders) on the importance of our Gulf Coast area.

She worked at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab where she received her masters in Marine Science. She now lives in Thibodaux, Louisiana, with her husband, Jack, and has a camp in Grand Isle, which is her retreat and inspiration. In addition to working for GOMA, Alma also works for Jacobs Engineering, where she is helping to restore coral reefs in Puerto Rico.

GOMA brings home national award

GOMA recently received an Association for Conservation Information (ACI) award for our work on the Governors’ Action Plan IV for Healthy and Resilient Coasts. The Alliance won 2nd place in the publication book/report category, competing against natural resource communicators from across the country.

“This was a team win for our dedicated staff and their work with numerous partners to bring the plan together,” said Alliance Executive Director Laura Bowie. Alliance communication staff Christina Mohrman and Amanda Nalley accepted the award while attending the ACI conference in Nashville on July 24-27.

GOMA Organization and Partnerships

GOMA seeking program coordinator

GOMA is accepting applications through September 30 for a Program Coordinator for the Data and Monitoring Team. The person in this position will support regional program duties of the Alliance, specifically those related to monitoring and mapping.

View Job Description and Apply

Tool of the Month

Tool of the Month: Gulf Coast Monitoring & Assessment Portal (CMAP)

Created by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, the Gulf Coast Monitoring & Assessment Portal (CMAP) inventory contains more than 800 monitoring and mapping programs and assessments. The portal is designed to improve discovery and accessibility of existing monitoring data and ensure collected information supports management decision-making.

Check out the CMAP tool

Partner News

Gulf dead zone update

According to NOAA, the Gulf of Mexico's "dead zone" is measuring to be smaller than average for the first time since the size peaked in 2017. Researchers have stated that low water flow may be connected to the smaller hypoxic zone size. Learn more.

Bays and Bayous Symposium call for abstracts

The symposium will be Jan. 24-25 at the Mobile Convention Center. Abstracts must be submitted by 5 p.m. Oct. 19. Learn more.

Gulf of Mexico wind energy public comment period extended

BOEM has extended the public comment period on the identification of two potential wind energy areas to Sept. 2, 2022. Learn more.

NOAA Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program celebrates 20 years

From students growing grasses in Louisiana to learning about sea level change in Mississippi, the NOAA B-WET competitive grant program has been a powerful catalyst for environmental literacy across the Gulf of Mexico. Congratulations NOAA B-WET on your 20th anniversary this year!

Youth Innovation Challenge 2022 hosted by North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) and Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP)

Anyone aged 15-30 is invited to sign up for the NAAEE/GEEP Youth Innovation Challenge, a contest seeking innovative, feasible solutions that are informed by research. Learn more.

NOAA releases Gulf of Mexico short film

Enjoy the 2.5 minute short which was recently released as part of NOAA's inaugural Summer Film Festival series. Learn more .

The National Academies' Gulf Research Program announces grant awards for two HBCUs

The National Academies' Gulf Research Program recently announced $200,000 in planning grants to two HBCU as part of a partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will be used to understand how data on social determinants of health can transform public health data systems in the Gulf of Mexico region. Learn more.