Julie Lively

As the director of the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, it’s my distinct pleasure to share the incredible work our team does for Louisiana and the broader region. Louisiana Sea Grant, established in 1968 and based at Louisiana State University, is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Sea Grant Program, a network of 34 Sea Grant programs located in each of the coastal and Great Lakes states, Guam and Puerto Rico. A federal-state partnership, our mission is to generate and provide science-based information and tools supporting thriving coastal communities and ecosystems and increase coastal resilience and economic opportunities.

Since our 50th anniversary in 2018, we’ve seen some changes, including the retirement of longtime extension agents like Mark Shirley and Kevin Savoie. Becoming the fourth director in the program’s history in 2021, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the profound impact of our entire portfolio. In 2023 alone, our efforts generated an estimated $77.9 million in economic benefits and created or supported more than 1,731 jobs. The following is a quick snapshot of the many recent achievements by the Louisiana Sea Grant team.

Research and Innovation 

We continue to invest in critical research for Louisiana, allocating over half a million dollars annually to researchers across the state, including through our Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program. We’re also excited to welcome back experienced professionals as Sea Grant Scholars — university retirees who return for part-time appointments — with Shirley soon joining their ranks to contribute his expertise part-time.

Empowering Coastal Communities

Our multilingual programming in Vietnamese and Spanish is crucial for our extension agents working with the commercial fishing and seafood processing sectors throughout Louisiana. This vital work has even earned agents Thu Bui and Shirley public service awards from the U.S. Coast Guard. Our extension team also assisted catfish facilities in adapting their food safety programs to comply with U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations, ensuring the continued success of this industry. 

Louisiana Sea Grant’s programs have been instrumental in restoring, protecting and enhancing more than 690,000 acres of coastal habitat. Given the recent hurricane activity, our entire program plays a critical role in hurricane recovery, response and building resilience before the next storm hits. In just one year, our program helped over 6,600 seafood industry personnel adopt safe and sustainable practices, leading to increased economic opportunities. 

Informing Policy and Education 

Our four-person Law and Policy Program has been recognized for providing neutral, nonpartisan information, even being called upon by the state Legislature for its scholarly services. This program also contributes significantly to the state and nation’s professional workforce by developing students interested in legal or coastal and marine policy careers through its legal internship opportunities. 

Our education program engages individuals of all ages across the state, from Wetland Days along the coast and Ocean Commotion on campus each fall, to the Louisiana Discovery, Integration and Application (LaDIA) program. LaDIA builds crucial connections between university researchers and coastal communities through cooperative extension, fostering a deeper understanding of our coastal environment. 

Louisiana Sea Grant is dedicated to working across campus, the coast and the region. Through our integrated approach of research, education and extension, we are committed to solving pressing problems and creating lasting economic impact for Louisiana. We are proud of our contributions and look forward to continuing our work to create wins for Louisiana.

Julie Lively is the executive director of Louisiana Sea Grant and a professor in the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources.

This article appears in the fall 2025 edition of Louisiana Agriculture.