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95% – Percentage of our actions in progress or complete as part of our current Governors’ Action Plan IV

69 – Active projects This is our largest single-year number of projects ever! Forty-four projects are federally- funded and 25 are funded through our Gulf Star Program. This represents more than $22 million total in current projects.  

2 – New Gulf Star partners This year we were excited to welcome Williams and Sempra Infrastructure to our growing team of organizations who help move our work forward. Stay tuned for more partners to come in 2026.

$6.8M – New funding This includes $6 million in new federal funding and $800,000 in private funding through our Gulf Star Program, demonstrating broad support from our stakeholders.

457 – Number of attendees at All Hands Meeting in Biloxi, Miss. Coastal scientists and stakeholders from 135 organizations, representing state and federal agencies, academia, non-profit organizations, and the private sector, met to build partnerships for a healthier Gulf.

3,895 – Number of derelict crab traps removed from across the five Gulf states, along with 2,100 pounds of aquaculture debris; this work was led by the Wildlife & Fisheries Team

7 – Communities supported This is a vital part of our coastal community resilience work, supporting planning and implementation projects with communities Gulf-wide. This work was led by the Coastal Community Resilience Team.

65 – Vessels removed Led by our Marine Debris Cross-Team Initiative, this work included vessel removal in Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas.

1,990 – Projects in the Deepwater Horizon Project Tracker; this work, led by the Data & Monitoring Team, centers on restoration, research, and recovery projects resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill

2,409 – Acres of cropland using improved farming practices This is part of work by the Water Resources Team to reduce excess runoff that enters local waterways in the Bayou Lafourche watershed in Louisiana, using innovative farming practices.

414 – Registered for tropicalization webinars Topics included ways tropical species are expanding their ranges north as temperatures warm, mangrove expansion, and related management challenges in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. This work was led by the Habitat Resources Team. 

7 – Number of Ocean Guardian Schools Focused on coastal watershed stewardship, students at these schools implement a community or school-based conservation project. Schools supported in 2025 are located in Port Arthur, East Houston, and Galveston County, Texas; Pointe-Au-Chien, Morgan City, and West Feliciana, Louisiana; and Robertsdale, Alabama. This effort is led by the Education & Engagement Team. 

2.5 – Acres of habitat restored Local high-school students gained hands-on experience in STEM-related career opportunities while growing native marsh grasses. These grasses were used to create a living shoreline in Flour Bluff (near Corpus Christi in the Texas Coastal Bend).  This work was led by the Integrated Planning Cross-Team Initiative.

30 – Residents engaged to discuss how newly rebuilt marshes reduce flood risk for nearby homes; this will better inform residents as they work to lower their insurance rates. This project is led by the Human Benefits of Nature Cross-Team Initiative.

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“These projects tackle challenges important to our Gulf states,” said Laura Bowie, Gulf of America Alliance executive director. “Addressing these common issues in a voluntary and collaborative way benefits Gulf ecosystems and the economy.”

Eight new projects located across the Gulf states will focus on:

• coastal community resilience
• data accessibility and sharing
• environmental education
• habitat and water resources
• wildlife and fisheries
• marine debris

Each project was selected to achieve goals identified in the Alliance’s Governors’ Action Plan IV for Healthy and Resilient Coasts (https://gulfofamericaalliance.org/what-we-do/governors-action-plan/) a five-year strategic plan developed by the Gulf states in collaboration with federal agencies, universities, non-profit organizations, and industry partners. Projects will continue through November 2026.

Information for each project is listed below:

Project Title: Clean and Resilient Marinas: Community Grants for Certification

Location: Gulfwide

Lead Institution: Various Local Communities

Project Description: Update the Clean and Resilient Marina Program publications and support government-owned and operated marinas and harbors across the five Gulf states in addressing best management practices and completing the certification process for the Clean and Resilient Marina Program

Project Title: GIS Dashboards for National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs) and National Estuary Programs (NEPs)

Location: Gulfwide

Lead Institution: To Be Announced

Project Description: Engage estuary scientists and managers to co-design GIS dashboards with relevant, regional water quality and habitat data; GIS dashboards will be connected to the Alliance’s Gulf Online Mapping Open Data Platform (GOMOD)

Project Title: Gulf Literacy Principles

Location: Gulfwide

Lead Institution: Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Project Description: Develop a framework of fundamental concepts that everyone should know about the Gulf modeled after the Ocean Literacy environmental education structure

Project Title: Inventory of Restoration Quality Sediment Needs Across the Gulf

Location: Gulfwide

Lead Institution: APTIM

Project Description: Develop first-order estimates of restoration quality sand and sediment needed for present and future habitat maintenance and restoration needs in the five Gulf states

Project Title: Supporting State-led Derelict Crab Trap Detection and Removal

Location: Gulfwide

Lead Institution: Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission

Project Description: Continue to improve derelict crab trap detection and support removal programs in each of the five Gulf states to reduce mortality of blue crabs and other species due to ghost fishing

Project Title: Exploring the Relationship Between Septic System Prevalence and Water Contamination

Location: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi

Lead Institution: Auburn University

Project Description: Collaborate with university extension agents and local governments to obtain and map data about on-site water treatment (septic) systems; create a predictive model with environmental, septic system, and socio-economic data to understand connections to water pollution

Project Title: Updates to the Strategic Conservation Vision Tool

Location: Gulfwide

Lead Institution: Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation

Project Description: Enhance user access, improve functionality, and additional data to the Strategic Conservation Vision mapping tool, an interactive decision-support tool that guides conservation professionals in selecting projects for permanent land protection based on target species, habitat, and more

Project Title: Preventing Marine Debris and Reducing Waste Through the Geauxing Green Initiative

Location: Louisiana

Lead Institution: French Quarter Festivals Inc.

Project Description: Support the “Geauxing Green” sustainability initiative, which prevents trash and marine debris, reduces waste, and promotes environmental education at music and cultural celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana, including the French Quarter Festival and Satchmo SummerFest

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The funding will be used to demonstrate an innovate approach to reducing nutrient pollution in the Gulf by turning nuisance algae into beneficial fertilizer for corn and soybean farming. Project activities will take place at catfish ponds in Leflore County, Mississippi, and at Little Rock Lake in Benton County, Minnesota, benefiting farmers and local communities.

Collecting and reusing nutrient-rich algae helps farmers, reduces dependence on traditional fertilizers, and improves water quality by reducing the amount of fertilizer flowing into the Mississippi River and the Gulf. Farmers will be trained in new technologies and learn about the project through videos and targeted education events.

“Nutrient management is crucial for fostering vibrant waterbodies suitable for both commercial and recreational purposes,” said Marc Wyatt, Director of the EPA’s Gulf of America Division. “The Gulf of America Alliance, along with its partners, plans to mitigate nutrient pollution by utilizing algae collected from catfish farms as an alternative fertilizer for corn and soybean cultivation. This innovative approach showcases how a byproduct from the catfish industry can be transformed into a valuable resource, reducing nutrient runoff and enhancing water quality in the Gulf.”

“Clean water is a vital resource that supports habitats, communities, and our economy,” said Laura Bowie, executive director for the Gulf of America Alliance. “We appreciate EPA’s support of this effort and look forward to working with our project partners over the next three years.”

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As part of this effort, 10 abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) were removed from Baldwin County and the Perdido River/Bay area in March and April 2025. These vessels made up approximately 150,000 pounds of debris, including recreational sailboats, cabin cruisers, houseboats and two barges.

“It’s important to remove abandoned vessels because of the danger they pose to boaters navigating in unknown waters or during limited visibility. Also, these removals restore natural water flow and support healthier ecosystems,” commented Laura Bowie, Gulf of America Alliance executive director.

The effort to remove these vessels was a product of collaboration between the Alliance and multiple local and state agencies. Contractor MD Thomas Construction, LLC, removed and properly disposed of the identified ADVs. ALEA was involved to ensure the Contractor complied with federal, regional and local laws, while Mississippi State University Coastal Marine Extension assisted with coordinating between the Alliance, the contractor and ALEA, acting as the on-site project manager for this project.

“As the Alabama designee to GOAA, I was proud to support this important project,” said Alabama Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship. “I am glad we are able to provide funding to our partners at ALEA to perform this very important work to clean up our waterways.”

Photos for media use: 

Alabama ADV Derelict Sailboat Removed (Credit: MD Thomas)

Alabama ADV Removing Vessels with a Backhoe (Credit: MD Thomas)

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The Gulf of America Alliance, in coordination with the Texas General Land Office (GLO) and Mississippi State University Coastal Marine Extension, recently supported an effort to remove five vessels as part of an ongoing large-scale project across the Gulf Coast. This project is supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program.

As part of this effort, five abandoned and derelict vessels (ADV) were removed from south Galveston County in April, including popular areas on Galveston Island. This removal represents approximately 21,040 pounds of debris from local waterways.

“I am thrilled that through our partnership with the Gulf of America Alliance, five abandoned boats in Offatts Bayou and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway were safely removed, eliminating their threat to the area’s vital marine ecosystem and fishing community,” said Dawn Buckingham, M.D., GLO Commissioner. “I thank everyone at the Gulf of America Alliance for their expertise in the Galveston area and look forward to achieving many more wins for the Texas coast and the people and wildlife that call it home.”

The boats, all fiberglass, were sunk in heavy Gulf-bottom mud, where they posed a serious threat to marine ecosystems. Abandoned fiberglass vessels can release toxic residue into surrounding waters and sediment. ADVs may also contain hazardous substances like fuel and lubricants, which can endanger Gulf marine life and damage habitats.

Four of the five vessels were located in Offatts Bayou, a heavily trafficked area for local and visiting recreational boaters and the fishing community. Removal of these ADVs now provides a safer, more desirable boating experience for both Galveston Island visitors and residents.

Besides safety, the vessels were an eyesore to the Texas coastline. They were present in high-visibility areas, near homes, popular restaurants and a main bridge on Galveston Island. Removing these ADVs promotes the beauty of the Galveston area for both residents and visitors and should encourage increased commerce for nearby businesses.

Buckingham added, “As a former resident of Galveston Island for over a decade, preserving the health and beauty of its coastal waters is a mission close to my heart. The safe removal of abandoned boats is essential to the GLO’s efforts to protect marine life and coastal communities from the considerable risks presented by these unsightly hazards, including leakage of fuels and toxic chemicals.”

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OCEAN SPRINGS, July 28, 2025 –  The Gulf of America Alliance, in coordination with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR), recently supported work to remove 18 vessels as part of an ongoing large-scale project across the Gulf Coast. This project is supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program.

As part of this effort, abandoned and derelict vessel (ADV) removal in Mississippi began in the summer of 2024, with nine vessels each from Hancock and Harrison counties successfully removed to date. These removals account for approximately 411,000 pounds of debris cleared from coastal waters. The vessels varied widely in type and material, including sailing boats, fishing vessels, houseboats and recreational crafts made of steel, wood, fiberglass and aluminum.

The state’s removal efforts are led by MDMR, which coordinates the Mississippi Derelict Vessel Program. MDMR identifies and monitors ADVs, implements the legally required steps to declare vessels as derelict when ownership cannot be confirmed and contracts for their safe removal.

Collaboration between agencies enhances the project by involving local citizens, as they know the history, people and have a unique insight into the areas where they live.

“When they [local citizens] are included in the vessel removal process, they feel ownership, pride and will become better stewards of their local waterways, parks and wilderness areas,” says Roy Lipscomb, MDMR’s Mississippi Derelict Vessel Program Coordinator.

An important benefit of removing an ADV is eliminating the danger it poses to boaters navigating in unknown waters or during limited visibility. Their GPS will not show that there is an obstruction ahead, and vessels hitting submerged or partially submerged objects is a major factor in vessel accidents.

Beyond improving safety, ADV removal also restores natural water flow and supports healthier ecosystems.

“The biggest benefit of the removal of an ADV in a small waterway is that the tidal flow is not impeded anymore,” shared Lipscomb. “I have seen ADVs blocking most of a canal or bayou, then debris, logs and aquatic plants start to clog the waterway and basically stop the natural water movement.”

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