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Building Partnerships

for a Healthier Gulf

November 2024

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It's the most wonderful time of the year. But, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans produce 25% more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. From gifts and shipping boxes to wrapping paper and more, it all adds up. The good news is that you can make a positive impact for the environment and the Gulf of Mexico with a few simple changes. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram all December for tips on how you can have a green holiday.

Happy holidays from the Gulf of Mexico Alliance!

Our Integrated Planning Cross-Team will have it's mid-year meeting Dec. 10. This will be a virtual meeting and you must register in advance.

Other GOMA teams and cross-teams met earlier this fall, and have had very successful gatherings.

View and like our post on this project:

LinkedIn

The Gulf of Mexico Open Data platform (GOMOD) is growing.

This one-stop shop for regional data straight from the sources already includes Gulf-wide data on community resilience, priority habitats, water quality, regional sediment, and more. New data services are being added currently.

"GOMA has always been a hub and now we have a technological application that fits the 20 year old GOMA model," said GIS Institute Founder and Director Drew Stephens.

Check out our video to learn more about this platform. This project is funded by NOAA through our Gulf Star Program.

All Hands Sponsors

Our All Hands Meeting 2025 is scheduled for May 5-8 at the Golden Nugget in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Online registration for the meeting is open and is $175.

Hotels are also listed on the website.

Planning to submit a tool for the Tools Cafe?

Spaces are already half filled and are on a first come, first served basis. Apply today.

Interested in being a sponsor? Contact Becky Ginn at 228-547-4808 or Becky.Ginn@gomxa.org.

Tool of the Month

GCOOS ArcGIS Online platform

The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) has a new ArcGIS Online platform. This site will serve the public with quality and accessible datasets and provide the infrastructure for future GIS work.

In addition to the new platform, they are rolling out a new open-source Python Package that creates, manages and administers ERDDAP™ data on ArcGIS Online. ERDDAP™ (formerly known as the Environmental Research Division Data Access Program) is a data service that standardizes access to oceanographic and atmospheric datasets that users can request in a variety of common file types.

Partner News

Coastal GeoTools Conference registration is open

Registration is open for the 13th Coastal GeoTools Conference, hosted by the Association of State Floodplain Managers. The conference is scheduled for Jan. 27-30 in Wilmington, NC.

NOAA Marine Debris Art contest accepting submissions

Students in grades K through 8th have been challenged to make art that answers the questions "How does marine debris impact the Gulf?" and "What are you doing to prevent marine debris?" Art submissions are due by Dec. 13 and winners will be featured in the 2026 Marine Debris calendar.

2024 Mississippi Restoration Summit available to watch online

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality recently presented its 2024 annual restoration update via an online video recording. The video includes updates on the group’s ongoing restoration projects and future planning efforts.

Open Ocean Trustees seeking public comment on fish and water column invertebrates and sea turtles

The Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group is seeking comments on it's Draft Restoration Plan 4 and Environmental Assessment: Fish and Water Column Invertebrates and Sea Turtles through Dec. 16.

Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring accepting applications for community-led heat-monitoring campaigns

Selected communities will receive $10,000 from NOAA to monitor and evaluate factors influencing local heat risk. Applications are due by Jan. 17.

Is U.S. wild-caught shrimp sustainable?

The short answer is yes, but check out this NOAA article to find out why it is, how the industry is struggling, and more.

Events

Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation: Annual Membership Meeting (virtual)

Dec. 4

BOEM: 2024 Gulf of Mexico Offshore Sand Management Working Group (SMWG) Meeting (New Orleans, LA & virtual)

Dec. 5

ACES: A Community on Ecosystem Services Conference (Austin, TX)

Dec. 9-12

Gulf of Mexico Alliance

1151 Robinson Street

Ocean Springs, MS 39564