Sea Grant and the Southeastern

The Southeastern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico (SEGUL) region of the National Sea Grant College Program is dominated by wetlands, which serve as wildlife nurseries, offer protection from floodwaters, filter wastes from rivers and streams and often harbor fossil fuels. The region stretches from Texas through North Carolina and encompasses a wide variety of coastal ecosystems. These ecosystems range from the swampy marshes of southern Florida and Louisiana to the barrier islands of Texas and North Carolina and the lush, tropical forests of Mississippi and Alabama and equally the tropical marine ecosystems of Puerto Rico.

The region is distinguished by the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean’s Gulf Stream, which runs along the coast of the southeastern United States before cutting east across the ocean.

SEGUL states also bear the brunt of the tropical storms and hurricanes that strike the United States. These storms constantly reshape coastlines and endanger lives and property.

The eight programs of the SEGUL region are united in that they are university-based institutions that support research, education and outreach to conserve coastal resources and enhance economic opportunity for our region.