Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program


The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program Advisory Service is a legal research service provided free of charge to the Sea Grant College Program and its constituents on the Gulf of Mexico. The Legal Program is prohibited from providing legal advice or becoming involved in litigation. The information provided by Legal Program attorneys is intended for informational purposes only. Organizations requesting legal information should always seek independent, professional legal advice prior to taking action.

The final products of Legal Program Advisory Requests are available for download by browsing the list, arranged topically, below.

Aquaculture Beaches: Public Access Breakwater Climate Resiliency Coastal Development Conservation Establishing Nonprofits in Mississippi Facility Security Fishing Flood Insurance Florida Severability Memo Lake Surface Water Rights Living Shorelines Oil Drilling Oil Spills Photograph Use on Websites Public Access Riparian Rights Seafood Markets Sovereign Immunity Trees Over Navigable Waterways Wetlands

Aquaculture

Download  |  May, 2011  —  by Stephanie Showalter, Director
Research on the Alabama Submerged Lands Leasing Programs for a proposed oyster aquaculture "farming park" in Alabama.


Download  |  May, 2011  —  by Stephanie Showalter, Director
Alabama Submerged Lands Leasing Programs - Part 2.


Download  |  May, 2011  —  by Stephanie Showalter, Director
Alabama Submerged Lands Leasing Programs - Part 3.


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Beaches: Public Access

Download  |  Feb., 2012  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
Questions about the Impact of User Fees on Liability under the Alabama Recreational Use Law.


Download  |  Feb., 2005  —  by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel
Questions about beach access on Dauphin Island.


Download  |  June, 2004  —  by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel
Questions:
1) What rights do non-landowners have to access the public shore on the west end of Dauphin Island?
2) What authority does the Town have to restrict parking on the west end rights-of-way to property owners?
3) Who owns renourished beaches?


Download  |  June, 2004  —  by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel
Questions about seawall and beach access on Dauphin Island.


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Breakwater

Download  |  Aug., 2004  —  by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel
Advisory request, liability for breakwaters at Alonzo Landing Salt Marsh Habitat Restoration.


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Climate Resiliency

Download  |  June, 2015  —  by Catherine Janasie, Research Counsel
Increasing Climate Resilience on Dauphin Island Through Land Use Planning


Download  |  May, 2013  —  by Catherine Janasie, Ocean and Coastal Law Fellow
Climate Impacts for the Southeastern U.S. and Dauphin Island, AL.


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Coastal Development

Download  |  Mar., 2013  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
Resilient Coastal Development Through Land Use Planning.


Download  |  Sep., 2011  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
Municipal Use of Impact Fees in Mississippi.


Download  |  Sep., 2011  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
Overview of Coastal Barrier Resources Act Maps and Policies.


Download  |  May, 2011  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
A Review of State Coastal Development Laws in the Gulf of Mexico.


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Conservation

Download  |  Mar., 2018  —  by Kristina Alexander, Senior Research Counsel
Small Critter, Big Problem: Protecting the Pearl River Map turtle in Mississippi


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Establishing Nonprofits in Mississippi

Download  |  May, 2007  —  by Terra Bowling, Senior Research Counsel
How can nonprofits be established in Mississippi?


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Facility Security

Download  |  Feb., 2004  —  by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel
Question about generic plans for smaller facilities.


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Fishing

Download  |  Sep., 2004  —  by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission rulemaking questions.


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Flood Insurance

Download  |  June, 2014  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
The Changing Landscape of the National Flood Insurance Program: A Federal Perspective


Download  |  Aug., 2013  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
National Flood Insurance Reform: A Glance at Proposals to Reform the Biggert-Waters Act


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Florida Severability Memo

Download  |  Mar., 2007  —  by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel
When an amendment to the Florida constitution, which has been approved by voters, contains a section that is inconsistent with the rest of the amendment, how can the inconsistent section be legally challenged and removed?


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Lake Surface Water Rights

Download  |  Mar., 2007  —  by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel
Who owns the surface rights to a manmade lake?


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Living Shorelines

Download  |  Aug., 2013  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
Coastal Alabama Living Shorelines Policies, Rules, and Model Ordinance Manual


Download  |  Aug., 2012  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
Shellfish Restoration and Alternative Shoreline Protection Policies of the Southeastern United States: Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.


Download  |  June, 2011  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
Questions from homeowners along Mon Louis Island about property rights issues related to a proposed living shorelines project by the Mobile Bay National Estuary Program.


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Oil Drilling

Download  |  Feb., 2005  —  by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel
Questions about proposed oil drilling in Grand Bay, AL.


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Oil Spills

Download  |  Mar., 2016  —  by Stephanie Showalter, Director
'Legal Framework Governing Use of Dispersants'


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Photograph Use on Websites

Download  |  Aug., 2007  —  by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel
What are the potential legal problems with using photographs (especially of children) on websites to highlight Sea Grant Activities?


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Public Access

Download  |  Sep., 2011  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
Public Greenways and Alabama's Recreational Use Law.


Download  |  July, 2011  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
Implementing a pedestrian greenway in Gulf Shores, Alabama.


Download  |  June, 2005  —  by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel
Question about public/private status of oxbow lakes that were formerly part of navigable waters.


Download  |  Mar., 2011  —  by Josh Clemons, Independent Consultant and Former Research Counsel
White paper on Oxbow Lakes, questions from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.


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Riparian Rights

Download  |  Aug., 2011  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
An Alabama property owner requested research regarding riparian rights to construct structures along waterfront property in Alabama.


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Seafood Markets

Download  |  Sep., 2022  —  by Kristina Alexander, Senior Research Counsel
Quick Guide to Selling the Seafood You Caught in Mississippi Directly to Consumers or Restaurants


Download  |  Jan., 2013  —  by Catherine Janasie, Ocean and Coastal Law Fellow
Re: Anti-Trust Research on Catfish Cost of Production Model


Download  |  Sep., 2011  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
Alabama Dept. of Public Health Regulation of Seafood Sales.


Download  |  June, 2011  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
Alabama Regulation of Seafood Safety and Sales.


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Sovereign Immunity

Download  |  Feb., 2010  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
A question was posed about the sovereign immunity and discretionary functions in Mississippi & Alabama.


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Trees Over Navigable Waterways

Download  |  Aug., 2007  —  by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel
Question about removal of damaged trees over navigable waterway.


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Wetlands

Download  |  Oct., 2011  —  by Niki L. Pace, Senior Research Counsel
A question about the Measurement of Setback Line asked by the Director of Community Development and Planning for the City of Ocean Springs.


Download  |  Apr., 2004  —  by Josh Clemons, Research Counsel
A question about the Wetland Mitigation Ordinance for the City of Orange Beach, Alabama.


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Submit an Advisory Service Request

To submit an advisory request or to request additional information, please contact:

Mississippi-Alabama
Sea Grant Legal Program

University of Mississippi
254 Kinard Hall, Wing E
P.O. Box 1848
University, MS 38677

662-915-7775
662-915-5267 (fax)

Advisory Service Guidelines

This guide is to assist organizations on how to properly request advisory services.

Download Guidelines

Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program