Priority Issues:


Sunset from Gulf Coast of Texas. Photo credit: Gulf of Mexico Alliance Governors' Action Plan

As part of the Governors' Action Plans, the Alliance identified six priority issues that are regionally significant and can be effectively addressed through increased collaboration at the local, state and federal levels. These priorities represent an initial focus for action through the Alliance:

  • Water Quality: to help ensure healthy beaches and safe seafood in our coastal areas
  • Habitat Conservation and Restoration: advance conservation and restoration of coastal habitats and ecosystems throughout the Gulf and associated watersheds
  • Ecosystem Integration and Assessment: improve accessibility and awareness of the extensive data available throughout the Gulf region
  • Nutrients & Nutrient Impacts: to build and evaluate tools needed to reduce excess nutrients and restore coastal waters that have been negatively impacted by nutrients.
  • Coastal Community Resilience: to make communities more resilient in order to sustain and grow the region’s economic prosperity
  • Environmental Education: to provide educational programs to improve the nation’s understanding and appreciation of the Gulf and its abundant natural and living resources.

Each priority identifies long term goals for the region and a number of actions to achieve those goals and will address challenges facing the Gulf.

Regional Initiatives

In addition, due to recent events in the Gulf, the Alliance has expanded its focus to include the following initiatives: