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It has already been a year since the Mississippi Sound Estuary Program (MSEP) was first established. Since that point, the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium (MASGC) has been essential in supporting MSEP programs and activities, such as cleaning Mississippi beaches, leading education events for Mississippi students and much more. However, a key part of the work being done has been creating a strong network of researchers, natural resource managers, teachers, business leaders, state officials, MASGC members and other stakeholders to develop the first Mississippi Sound Estuary Program Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP).

An essential part of the CCMP is the action plan. This action plan was developed through a focused effort of the four MSEP advisory committees, the Science Committee, the Engagement Committee, the Civil Committee and the Executive Committee. The MSEP held a series of workshops over the past year with each of these committees. During these workshops, the committees developed goals, objectives, and action items which will define what the MSEP will focus on over the next five years. 

The CCMP Action Plan contains six goals: 

  1. Provide reliable information.
  2. Increase community engagement.
  3. Improve water quality.
  4. Monitor and protect fish and wildlife.
  5. Improve ecosystem health.
  6. Increase community resilience (figure 1). 
"Infographic titled 'Action Plans' with six goals, each represented by a distinct color and icon: Goal 1: Provide Reliable Information (dark blue with an icon of three people and a speech bubble). Goal 2: Increase Community Engagement (yellow with an icon of people with radiating lines). Goal 3: Improve Water Quality (light blue with a water droplet icon). Goal 4: Monitor and Conserve Fish and Wildlife (brown with icons of fish and waves). Goal 5: Improve Ecosystem Health (green with an icon of grass or plants). Goal 6: Increase Community Resilience (orange with a raised fist icon). Logo of the Mississippi Sound Estuary Program is displayed at the bottom."
Figure 1. The six goals for the Mississippi Sound Estuary Program.

While the MSEP feels that this list of goals is nearing completion, there are still a couple of opportunities to provide input and help to guide what the MSEP does over the next 5 years. 

First, you can apply to join one of our committees by filling out the advisory committee form on our website. Committee members will be able to view the entire action plan and provide further input during our December Management Conference meeting. Following this meeting, the MSEP staff will be preparing the CCMP and action plan for a public comment period, which is the second opportunity to provide input. Starting in February 2025, the CCMP will be up for public comment for 60 days in which anyone can read it and make suggestions. 

To interact with the MSEP and keep up with what is happening, follow us on Facebook or Instagram. You can also sign up for our newsletter.

Meet the author

Sara Martin

Wetland Specialist, Mississippi State University

Sara Martin is a wetland specialist and extension associate with the Program for Local Adaptation to Changing Environments and the Mississippi State University (MSU) Coastal Research and Extension... Read more

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