Year: 2017
Project(s):
Relevance
Coastal residents across Mississippi and Alabama seek opportunities to learn more about and enhance the bays, bayous and beaches throughout the region. Often they do not know where they can serve. Meanwhile, large-scale programs such as oyster gardening, beach cleanups, coastal research projects and similar programs do not have enough staffing to complete the needed work.
Response
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant created programs and/or led long-standing programs that provided opportunities for volunteers to contribute their time, effort and expertise to enhance coastal areas. These programs include Mobile Bay Oyster Gardening Program, Mississippi Coastal Cleanup, Mississippi Master Naturalist Program, a variety of education programs and research-related projects.
Results
Between 2014 and 2017, thousands of people participated in Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant-led volunteer activities and programs. These volunteers contributed more than 64,000 hours valued at $1.22M, based on a $19 value of an hour of volunteer time.
Recap
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant provided volunteer opportunities to coastal residents, and their contributions were valued at more than $1.22M. (2017)