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CREC specialists conducted a two-day workshop entitled "Coastal Zone Impacts of the Dockside Gaming Industry: The Mississippi Experience." The workshop provided a detailed overview of all aspects of Mississippi's experience with the development and growth of the dockside gaming industry. Emphasis was on cumulative and secondary impacts of development as they relate to the Mississippi Coastal Zone Management Program. The information amassed during the workshop served as a valuable resource to other coastal areas which may be considering casino gaming as an option for economic development. Impact areas addressed included the cumulative and secondary impacts on the environment, coastal hazards mitigation, mitigation strategies for user conflicts, assessing the potential for degradation of water quality, effects of real estate development upon land use and public access issues, the implications for regulatory and legislative bodies, the increased need for provisions of public services, and economic impacts including displacement and potential loss of industry/jobs. A proceedings of this conference was published and serves as a valuable reference for other state coastal zone management professionals. |
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A gulf-wide education program that targets commercial fishermen and the problems of marine debris is being coordinated by the CREC across all five Gulf of Mexico states. Sponsored by the Gulf of Mexico Program, this project seeks to modify its successful marine debris program by focusing on targeted groups of the population that may be the source of significant sources of marine debris. Educational fact sheets and pamphlets will be developed and disseminated to the target audiences throughout the Gulf region. |
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