National Sea Grant Law Center

Advancing Ocean and Coastal Law Through Research

The National Sea Grant Law Center (NSGLC) supports the sustainable management of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources through legal research, education, and outreach. As a legal research program housed at the University of Mississippi School of Law, the NSGLC provides critical legal information and analysis to the Sea Grant network, policy-makers, and the general public through a variety of products and services.

Established in 2002, the Law Center was created to coordinate and enhance Sea Grant's activities in legal scholarship and outreach related to coastal and ocean law. It fulfills five major responsibilities defined by the National Sea Grant Office:

• Integrating the efforts of ocean and coastal law researchers and users throughout the Sea Grant network.
• Conducting legal research on emerging issues in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes law.
• Providing outreach and advisory services to Sea Grant programs and coastal stakeholders.
• Disseminating legal information through publications, workshops, and conferences.
• Serving as a focal point for Sea Grant’s legal initiatives and promoting a strong legal network nationwide.

Law Center attorneys contribute to the field by analyzing current legal and policy issues, publishing their findings, and engaging directly with agencies and organizations involved in marine resource management. They also play an active role in training law students and educating policy makers, legal professionals, and the public through continuing education programs and public engagement.

• As part of the National Sea Grant College Program, the Law Center is grounded in a larger mission that dates back to 1966, when Congress established Sea Grant as a partnership between the nation’s universities and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Through “sea grants” to universities in coastal and Great Lakes states, the program fosters research, education, outreach, and technology transfer to promote the wise stewardship of the nation’s marine resources.

Today, the NSGLC continues to bridge the gap between legal scholarship and real-world application—connecting research, policy, and public service to support resilient, well-informed coastal communities.

Our Work

The National Sea Grant Law Center is unique within the Sea Grant network. Rather than being established to address the needs of a particular state, the Law Center focuses on enhancing Sea Grant’s activities in legal scholarship and outreach across the country.

Like all Sea Grant Programs, the National Sea Grant Law Center uses a three-tiered approach of research, education, and extension to achieve its mission guided by a national focus area framework:

• Research: to expand knowledge and answer critical questions related to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes law issues.
• Education: to train the next generation of law students to practice ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes law.
• Extension: to connect legal research and scholarship to those who can use it to reform and enhance policies.

The National Sea Grant Law Center’s work supports all four national focus areas:

Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development

The National Sea Grant Law Center assists the National Sea Grant College Program in pursuing its environmental literacy and workforce development goals by training law students in the field of ocean and coastal law, hosting continuing legal education webinars, and presenting at professional workshops and symposiums.

Healthy Coastal Ecosystems

The National Sea Grant Law Center provides legal research, outreach, and education services to maintain healthy ecosystems, with particular focus on aquatic invasive species protection and coastal resource management.

Resilient Communities and Economies

The National Sea Grant Law Center provides legal research, outreach, and education to support the development of resilient coastal communities that sustain diverse and vibrant economies, effectively respond to and mitigate hazards, and function within the limits of their ecosystem.

Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture

The National Sea Grant Law Center supports Sea Grant’s mission by providing legal research, outreach, and education on issues such as fishery management, aquaculture permitting, and seafood sales.