CORPUS CHRISTI (Kiii News) -
Hundreds of scientists have descended on the Omni Bayfront Hotel as they work to try and protect the Gulf of Mexico.
It's the 7th Annual meeting of the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, known as the Gulf of Mexico Alliance All Hands meeting, where representatives from our five gulf states are here to talk shop.
The one thing pointed out was that in this age of government budget cuts, the Alliance is key to ensuring a healthy Gulf of Mexico.
There are around 350 people who are taking part in the three-day conference at the Omni Bayfront. Tuesday was a time for everyone to get together and talk about gulf issues like tourism and fishing.
Over the next two days, reports and studies will be presented which detail what's been done in the way of conservation and management of our gulf waters. It's an alliance that officials say is working so well, that other parts of the country are trying to duplicate the success.
"It's been heralded as the model for the United States for the other regions to follow. We came together first seven years ago, and it really worked together as states. The West coast, the Northeast are trying to get together like this, but it hasn't worked yet," said Dr. Wes Tunnell with the Harte Research Institute.
While other regions are still trying to iron out their problems, this alliance is seeing government agencies now wanting to join up. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency, or NOAA, along with the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, are two of those groups now working with the alliance.
The Alliance is not just a once-a-year affair. The scientist's from our gulf states continue to work as teams throughout the year to try and solve problems facing the gulf like pollution.
