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.
