The Gulf Of Mexico ata aGlance: A Second Glance

National Ocean Service, NOAA

The Gulf of Mexico region provides the Nation with valuable energy resources, abundant seafood, extraordinary beaches and leisure activities, and a rich cultural heritage. At the same time, the Gulf of Mexico has endured incredible natural and man-made catastrophes in the last decade, including the most costly natural disaster in U.S. history – Hurricane Katrina in 2005 – and the largest accidental marine oil spill in U.S. history – Deepwater Horizon MC252 in 2010. All the while, coastal and ocean managers in the region continue to address complex ecosystem health and water quality and quantity challenges. Since 2004, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance has worked to increase regional collaboration at state, local, and federal levels, with the goal of improving the ecological and economic health of the Gulf region. NOAA continues as a proud partner in this collaborative approach where shared scientific strengths are matched with shared management strengths. One objective of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance is to build public awareness about the connections between healthy coastal ecosystems, a robust economy, a safe population, and a sustainable quality of life for coastal residents. To this end, the Gulf of Mexico at a Glance: A Second Glance provides highlights of what we know about the Gulf region’s coastal communities, coastal economy, and coastal ecosystems, and how climate change might impact the Gulf coast. While this report presents only a small selection of regional attributes within these themes, we hope to inspire others to increase our collective understanding about these connections.