Page 20 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2024

COAST NOTE
story by Amanda Nalley and Christina Mohrman
You read that right: cash might be green, but on the Gulf, the economy is blue. But what does that mean? As defined by the World Bank, the blue economy
is the “sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.”
With 62 miles of coastline, you don’t have to look too hard to see how the blue economy fits in. We have shipbuilding, commercial and recreational fishing, tourism, ports, and so much more.
What you may not know though is we also have Gulf Blue, a group focused
on growing the blue economy through innovation. Created by The University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Blue pools the knowledge of research scientists, federal agencies, industry partners, and entrepreneurs to further develop the Gulf region as a global leader in blue technology.
Because the blue economy is so connected to what we do, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance will focus on this topic as the theme of our All Hands Meeting next May in Biloxi. This event will bring together more than 500 regional experts from state and federal agencies, universities, non-profits, and industries to share the latest science and plan projects that improve the Gulf Coast. Top leaders from the blue economy will be on hand leading workshops, speaking at our opening plenary, and demonstrating tools as our partners work together to improve the environmental and economic health of the region.
Learn more about what we do and how it impacts the blue economy at GulfofMexicoAlliance.org.
• Gulfport is one of the top importers of bananas in the U.S.
• According to Gulf Blue, the Mississippi Gulf Coast has the largest concentration of oceanographers in the world.
• Ingalls Shipbuilding is the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi.
• Beaches and casinos drive a $2 billion tourism industry.
• The port in Pascagoula ranks 27th among the top 50 ports in the U.S. by cargo.
20 | August 2024
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