The Coastal States Organization represents the nation’s Coastal States, Territories, and Commonwealths on ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resource issues.

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The American marine economy continues to fuel economic vitality, according to the statistics from the annual Marine Economy Satellite Account (MESA) released today by two Department of Commerce agencies – NOAA and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The marine economy contributed a total of $511 billion to the nation’s gross domestic product in 2023 (5.9% growth since 2022). It generated $827 billion in sales (4.5% growth since 2022) and supported 2.6 million jobs. The MESA statistics include all economic activities related to the ocean and U.S. coastal regions.

“From tourism and recreation to research and education, the marine economy touches the lives of every American,” said Acting NOAA Administrator Laura Grimm. “These statistics show how vital our marine industries are to American economic prosperity.”

This year’s report summarized 2023 data for sectors that include shipping, fishing, tourism and marine construction. Tourism and recreation topped the list of economic contributors, adding $179 billion to the GDP. Marine construction – which can include conservation, dredging and the building of recreational facilities – saw the largest growth in inflation-adjusted sales (15.6%).

MESA is a collaboration between NOAA and BEA to improve national estimates of economic activity tied to the ocean, coastal areas and major water bodies – including the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay and Puget Sound, and others. It provides data for 10 sectors representing businesses that depend on these water bodies.

Read more here.

The N.C. Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve, a program of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management, hosted its fourth stop on the “Discover the N.C. Coastal Reserve” Tour on May 16 at the Masonboro Island Reserve in Wilmington. “Discover the N.C. Coastal Reserve” is a multi-year campaign to raise awareness of the N.C. Coastal Reserve and the role the 10 Coastal Reserve sites and programs play in protecting the state’s coastal resources. The May 16 event highlighted how the Masonboro Island Reserve serves the residents and visitors to N.C. through its science and monitoring, delivery of information to educate and inform decision making, and providing natural buffers to waves and storms enhancing community resilience. The Reserve’s protected areas improve the quality of life for all residents and visitors by providing public access to coastal areas, essential habitat for fisheries and wildlife, and a cleaner and healthier environment.  “It is with thanks to the vision of former leaders that we have these resources protected today, and to an ongoing commitment to that vision by today’s leaders, including you all gathered here today, that these treasures will remain unspoiled for tomorrow,” said Division Director Tancred Miller. Read more here.

Oyster Population Booms in Maryland Waters

Maryland’s oyster population has grown significantly over the past two decades, reaching an estimated 12 billion oysters in the Chesapeake Bay in 2024, according to a benchmark stock assessment released by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. The assessment, covering 2005 to 2024, shows a fivefold increase in adult oysters since 2005, driven by strong reproduction, reduced disease mortality, and effective management. The stock assessment, released on Monday, estimates 7.6 billion adult oysters and over 5 billion juvenile oysters, or spat, in Maryland’s portion of the Bay, compared to just 2.4 billion adult oysters in 2005, a low point after disease decimated the population. “Good news for oysters is good news for the Chesapeake Bay,” said DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz. Oysters, a keystone species with economic and cultural significance, faced near-collapse in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with 75% dying from disease between 1999 and 2002. Ongoing restoration projects, like the Eastern Bay initiative, aim to further bolster populations across sanctuaries, fisheries, and aquaculture. Read more here.

The annual Memorial Weekend tradition of flying over the islands of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Perdido Key continued on May 24th. Beyond capturing the popular recreational use, the 2025 flyover took place during significant environmental restoration efforts that are actively reshaping the islands. In preparation for the Perdido Islands Habitat Restoration Project focusing on Walker and Robinson Islands, scientists began moving areas of seagrass out of the construction zones in mid-August 2024. Seagrasses are crucial nursery habitats for various marine species like blue crabs, shrimp, and fish. The main restoration project, which began in January of this year, involves dredging sand from channels to rebuild islands eroded by tides, storms, and boat wakes. These restoration efforts are part of a broader focus on ecosystem and community resilience in the region. The Perdido Watershed Initiative, which encompasses these island projects, received over $12.8 million in NOAA grant money in April 2023. The success of these initiatives is credited to the extensive collaboration among partners, including The Nature Conservancy, local governments like the City of Orange Beach, state agencies such as the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and universities. Read more here.

Mississippi – Living Shorelines Workshop Helps Landowners Combat Erosion, Protect Habitat

As erosion carves away at Mississippi’s coastal properties and tidal surges creep farther inland, many landowners are searching for alternatives to costly seawalls and bulkheads. In Moss Point on Tuesday, local property owners may have found one – and it grows from the ground up. The solution is called a living shoreline – a nature-based technique that stabilizes coastal edges using native marsh grasses, gentle slopes, and sometimes rocks or oyster shells. Mississippi State University, with support from Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium and the Mississppi Sound Estuary Program, has provided a series of workshops focused on living shorelines. The initiative offers free shoreline assessments, customized design plans, and permitting help – all aimed at equipping landowners with the tools they need to safeguard their properties and local ecosystems. The cost of installing a living shoreline typically ranges from $50 to $300 per linear foot, often cheaper than constructing traditional seawalls. Beyond the price, proponents say the benefits stretch far wider: restoring critical wildlife habitats, increasing water quality and improving coastal resilience. Read more here.

On June 7, Gov. Tony Evers announced $1.4 million in grants to support economic development, protect and improve Great Lakes resources, and create resiliency in Wisconsin’s coastal communities. The 34 grants are administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s (DOA) Wisconsin Coastal Management Program to be used by local, state, and Tribal governments, regional planning commissions, universities, and nonprofit organizations to assist with projects totaling over $3.4 million. “Supporting our coastal communities means supporting future resilience and sustainability efforts, as well as expanding public access, education, and the amazing resources which our Great Lakes provide for residents, visitors, and our future generations,” said DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld. “We’re proud to lead the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and grateful for the ongoing support of Governor Evers.” An interactive story map with details about some past coastal grants can be seen here. Read more here.

New Wetland Could Show How Michigan Can Reduce Agricultural Runoff Polluting Lake Erie

Nearly a year ago, plans to turn some not-terribly-productive farmland into a wetland were announced as a pilot project. Now, deep-rooted grasses and plants friendly to bees and butterflies are beginning to make the 300 acres look lush. Reducing phosphorus pollution getting from the River Raisin watershed in southern Michigan into Lake Erie could help reduce the toxic cyanobacterial blooms that plague the lake’s western basin each summer. State officials will be meeting with stakeholders late next month in Adrian. They’ll outline their updated plans at the 2025 State of the Western Lake Erie Basin Conference. Included will be continued monitoring of streams across the watershed, coordinated by the Alliance for the Great Lakes and the engineering firm Limnotech. They’re now working with Michigan State University’s Institute of Water Research on an expansion of water quality monitoring to learn where phosphorus runoff is worst and where conservation efforts are reducing agricultural pollution. Read more here.

June was designated as Ocean Month during a proclamation signing ceremony at the Carolinian Utt in Garapan on Wednesday, June 4. As part of the month-long festivities, the Division of Coastal Resources Management will host movie nights. This year’s Ocean Month theme is “Sailing Together Towards a Sustainable Future.” “[The ocean] is part of our DNA,” said Governor Arnold Palacios. “It’s part of us. We’re not born on a big continent. We’re islanders, and being an islander, you turn left, you see the ocean; you turn right, you see the ocean. So you grow up and your life is the ocean.” The proclamation, which the governor signed, stated that the CNMI is home to “rich marine biodiversity and ecosystems that sustain livelihoods, protect coastlines, drive tourism and offer cultural and recreational opportunities.” Read more here.

A Grassroots Movement Trying to Keep the Washington Coast Clean

Washington CoastSavers organizes the state’s largest annual beach cleanups, with the most recent one held on April 19, Earth Day weekend. In 2025, 584 volunteers removed over 13,000 pounds of marine debris from sites along Washington’s Pacific coast. While the energy behind these volunteer efforts is growing, the CoastSavers coordinator, Megan Juran worries that the infrastructure behind them is not. “Our current grant is through the NOAA Sea Grant… and our last grant was with the NOAA Marine Debris Program,” Juran said. “We don’t have a lot of capacity here.” The University of Washington serves as the program’s local partner and awarded $299,965 to Washington CoastSavers in 2023. The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary office is also facing layoffs and a lease termination – any further cuts are going to be impactful, especially in education and outreach, Juran explained. Juran’s concern is shared by many, as the federal infrastructure supporting coastal protection has remained strained for years. Without the necessary support, local volunteers often find themselves carrying the heavy burden of cleanup and advocacy. Read more here.

Has plastic pollution ever affected your fishing experience? Microplastics are harmful to fish and a major source of this pollution are plastic pellets, trillions of which spill into waterways each year. Environment America, a non-profit organization, is working for Plastic Pellet Free Waters. You can help by sharing your story about why plastic-free waters matter to you by contacting Natalie Greene at ngreene@environmentamerica.org.

[NEW] Report: Peatlands Play a Vital Ecological and Economic Role in the U.S.

The U.S. is home to some of the world’s most extensive peatlands. But over the past two centuries, these important ecosystems have declined significantly in certain regions, including the coastal Southeast, where more than 70% have disappeared because of diking, draining, and conversion to other uses, mainly agriculture. Pew released a new brief, “Peatlands Play a Vital Ecological and Economic Role in the U.S.”, that highlights the important, yet often overlooked, role that peatland ecosystems play as natural climate solutions. The piece features North Carolina’s coastal peatlands prominently and shines a light on how healthy peatlands support biodiversity, clean water, and resilience to floods and wildfires. It also outlines clear policy steps to better protect and restore these ecosystems, starting with improved mapping and the development of conservation goals. Read more here.

Request for Participation: Coastal and Marine Systems Survey

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are conducting a study to better understand climate change impacts and climate adaptation science needs in coastal and marine systems across the Northeastern U.S. and Eastern Canada. Our goal is to identify key knowledge gaps and barriers to implementation so that future research and adaptation efforts are useful, actionable, and aligned with the real-world challenges facing these systems. This survey is designed for natural resource managers, ecological practitioners, researchers, and community members within the U.S and Canada (ages 18 and older). Your insights will help guide future research and ensure that it is responsive to the most pressing issues facing coastal and marine systems. Your 15–20 minutes of insight and expertise will keep our collective work moving ahead where it’s needed most. Access the survey here.

2024 Sea Level “Report Cards” Map Futures of U.S. Coastal Communities

William & Mary’s Batten School and VIMS have released their 2024 U.S. sea level “report cards,” providing updated analyses of sea level trends and projections for 36 coastal communities. Encompassing 55 years of historical data, the report cards aid planning and adaptation efforts by analyzing rates of sea level rise and acceleration at each locality and forecasting 2050 water levels. This year, the report cards are consolidated in an interactive dashboard and add data from tide gauge stations in Annapolis, MD; Solomons Island, MD; Yorktown, VA; and Fort Myers, FL. The reports group localities into East Coast, Gulf Coast, West Coast and Alaskan Coast regions. Learn more here.

New Report Highlights the Far-Reaching Economic Benefits of Coastal Restoration

A newly released report from Restore America’s Estuaries sheds light on the critical role coastal restoration plays in supporting our nation’s economy. From job creation and housing to national defense and recreation, healthy estuaries are foundational to economic vitality and community resilience. Estuaries drive economic growth by supporting major industries, protecting infrastructure, and enhancing quality of life. In 2022 alone, coastal counties accounted for 53 million jobs—37% of total U.S. employment. These coastal ecosystems are not only natural treasures, but also vital economic engines. Restoration projects create high-quality jobs in science, engineering, and construction. They support local businesses, improve property values, and reduce costly damage from storms and sea-level rise. The return on investment is clear: every dollar spent on restoration generates multiple dollars in economic activity. Coastal restoration is a smart, forward-looking investment in our economy, our communities, and our future. Read the report here.

Funding Opportunity: Port Infrastructure Development Program

The US Department of Transportation has announced up to $500 million in funding for the Fiscal Year 2025 Port Infrastructure Development Program. State governments, County governments, Native American Tribal governments, special district governments, and city governments are eligible to apply. The deadline is September 10, 2025. Learn more here.

ASBPA National Coastal Conference 2025 Call for Abstracts

The ASBPA is excited to share the call for abstracts is open for the “Coasts on the Leading Edge: Bridging Science, Policy and Community” on October 7-10 in Long Beach, California. Technical, policy-oriented, and coastal floodplain resource and flood risk management presentations or posters are invited for a broad range of coastal and estuarine ecology, science, engineering, economics, and policy. We will also have sessions on the Blue Flag USA Award criteria such as environmental management; water quality; beach accessibility; beach safety and operations; and community engagement. Abstracts are due August 15 for Poster Presentations. Learn more here.

Student Writing Competition: Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Law and Policy

The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School, together with New York Sea Grant, is pleased to announce a writing competition for law students interested in writing on legal and policy issues associated with marine carbon dioxide removal. The competition is being held in connection with a one-day symposium on the topic “Navigating Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal: From Science to Regulation” which will be co-hosted by the Sabin Center and New York Sea Grant in September 2025. The winning article will be published in a special issue of the Sea Grant Law & Policy Journal, an online, scholarly publication of the National Sea Grant Law Center that will accompany the symposium. The winning author will also be invited to attend the symposium in New York to present their work. The top two pieces will each receive a cash prize of $500. The deadline is June 15, 2025. Learn more here.

Funding Opportunities

Nearly all federal grant opportunities are being re-evaluated and updated – awards using IRA and BIL funds are getting extra scrutiny. NOFOs are being removed, replaced, and updated. Be aware the opportunities posted below may be de-listed when you read this.