Looking back at the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium 50th Anniversary year, it has been a lot of fun learning more about MASGC’s first 50 years while planning how to position the consortium for the next 50 years.
MASGC’s earliest days
MASGC was established in 1972 by a few forward-looking leaders who recognized that a bi-state consortium was an excellent way to address common issues across the two states in a cost-effective manner. The State of Mississippi established the Universities Marine Center in June 1969. In 1972, several higher education institutions in Alabama, through their Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium, joined with the Mississippi Sea Grant Consortium. Later in 1972 the two states were designated as the first bi-state Sea Grant Program in the nation. Institutional status was bestowed in 1979, and College Program status was received in 1982.
MASGC is a science-based service organization through integrated university- and college-based research, education and engagement programs to coastal communities that lead to the responsible use of ocean and coastal resources through informed personal, policy and management decisions. MASGC works with many different groups of people including public officials, members of our working waterfront industries, students, teachers, non-profit organizations, university scientists, and local, state and federal agencies. At its core, MASGC strives to be an organization of servant leaders who encourage diversity of thought, create a culture of trust, have an unselfish mindset and foster leadership in others.
Consortium differs from other Sea Grant Programs
MASGC is a unique program among the 34 Sea Grant Programs located in every coastal and Great Lakes state. MASGC is the only bi-state consortium consisting of nine-member institutions in two states. Core funding for MASGC is through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with support from Alabama and Mississippi state governments and the nine MASGC member institutions. MASGC members include Auburn University, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, The University of Alabama, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, The University of Mississippi, The University of Southern Mississippi and University of South Alabama.
A lot has changed since 1972
Alabama and Mississippi encompass an area of nearly 1,000,000 square miles and have many major watersheds including the Pearl River, Pascagoula River and Mobile Bay. Much has changed since 1972. For example, the U.S. population in 1972 was 210 million and is currently 332 million (a 37-percent increase). When I think about our coasts, I think about seafood. Dockside price of brown shrimp in 1972 was $0.58/lb., and oysters were $0.66/lb. In 2021, dockside prices for brown shrimp was $2.34/lb. and oysters were $9.35/lb.
Staff makes the difference
The success of MASGC depends on a committed administrative staff who believe in doing the right thing for the people we serve. I express my deep appreciation the following MASGC administrative staff located at the Gulf Coast Research Lab in Ocean Springs:
- Devaney Cheramie, Fiscal Officer
- Amanda Fenger, Administrative and Communication Assistant
- Deborah Jefferson, Office Manager and Executive Support Associate
- Loretta Leist, Research and Fellowship Coordinator
- Melissa Schneider, Communications Coordinator
- Steve Sempier, Deputy Director and Outreach Director
This team has over 118 years of experience working with MASGC.
I am a very lucky person to work with other Sea Grant-supported education and engagement staff, scientists at consortium member institutions, a board of directors composed of leaders from each of our member institutions and an advisory council representing broad backgrounds and experiences who share the same beliefs in doing the right thing for the people we serve.
During my 22-year tenure with the consortium and nearly 33 years with Sea Grant, I have observed many challenges that our coastal communities and working waterfronts have faced. Our consortium has had to re-envision the programs and services we provide many times during the last 50 years. A few recent examples include:
MASGC envisions its future
MASGC envisions a future where people live, work and play along our coasts in harmony with the natural resources that attract and sustain them. This is a vision where we use our natural resources in ways that capture the economic, environmental and cultural benefits they offer, while preserving their quality and abundance for future generations.
If past performance is a good predictor, then I believe MASGC’s ability to adapt and pivot will allow the program to remain relevant for another 50-plus years.
It will be impossible to ignore the potential negative environmental, economic and societal impacts resulting from poorly planned coastal development, a poorly prepared blue economy workforce, unmet needs of working waterfront communities and pressing problems facing communities. MASGC remains committed to continuing its role as a boundary organization that delivers the best available science to anyone who needs it to make the most informed decisions.
I will close with a quote from Ronald Reagan who said, “We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone."
Thank you for your continued support and Happy Holidays from the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
Meet the author
LaDon Swann, Ph.D.
National Sea Grant Aquaculture Liaison
LaDon Swann serves as the national Sea Grant aquaculture liaison and works to strengthen the Sea Grant aquaculture portfolio. He is the former director of Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant and also... Read more
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