Page 12 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2020

COAST NOTE
ARE YOU
EMBRACING
THE GULF?
story by Laura Bowie, Executive Director Gulf of Mexico Alliance photos courtesy of Eric Sparks
Are you a sherman, a hiker, a boater, a kayaker, a lover of seafood? If so, then there is no
doubt that the Gulf of Mexico is a part of you. It’s who we are as a community, and it’s hard to be away for long. For me, this means I always know which way is south.
I am the executive director for the Gulf of Mexico Alliance. Our mission is to enhance the ecological and economic value of the Gulf of Mexico through increased regional collaboration. We were started in 2004 when the governors of the ve U.S. Gulf States recognized that, by working together, they could achieve more for the Gulf of Mexico than by state-by- state approaches. Today, there are over 1,000 people from across the region that work together to address issues that the ve Gulf states agree can use a regional approach. Those issues include conserving and restoring habitats, improving the health of wildlife and sheries, enhancing coastal resilience, improving data access and baseline monitoring, increasing stewardship, and improving water quality.
In 2020, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance embarked on a campaign called
“Embrace the Gulf” to promote the vitality, sustainability, beauty, and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico in the states that surround it, including Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Throughout the year, we
have pushed daily positive messages about the Gulf of Mexico, lifting spirits and reminding people of why we live where we do. Although 2020 was an unprecedented year in so many negative ways, we are incredibly proud to have heard from many incredible “Gulf-lovers” throughout the year. People are truly doing their part to embrace the Gulf: reducing single-use plastic, insisting on Gulf seafood, beach cleanups, student lesson plans, volunteer water sampling, etc. The list goes on and on. I am encouraged to know that these are life- long attitudes that will help our beloved natural resource stay strong and resilient for years to come.
We will continue our campaign into 2021, so join our campaign and let us know what you are doing to “Embrace the Gulf” by engaging with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Sponsored by Clean Gulf Associates
This story is part of the Embrace the Gulf 2020 campaign, which aims to highlight the value and vitality of the Gulf Coast Region through daily posts. Join the movement by following the Alliance on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
www.EmbracetheGulf.org
@GoMAlliance (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter)
#EmbracetheGulf #BuildingGOMPartnerships
12 | December 2020
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