The Sea Grant Legal Program based at Ole Miss is one of the crowning jewels in the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium. From it's develpoment under the visionary leadership of Richard McLaughlin, the program is now in the capable hands of John Duff. Recently, the Sea Grant Legal Program has been focusing on legal issues associated with fishery management methods, submerged lands ownership, offshore oil and gas development, international maritime boundary and marine resource treaties, and coastal habitat conservation. Matching funds are contributed by the State of Mississippi and the University of Mississippi. Outreach and Advisory Services - The staff of the Legal Program respond to research advisory requests from other Sea Grant funded agencies as well as state and federal agencies dealing with marine resource policy matters.
Attorneys also train law students in the field of ocean and coastal law.
Director John A. Duff has been involved in a variety of projects which directly contribute to the improvement of ocean and coastal management in Mississippi and Alabama. Among these are studies on fisheries regulations, the use of public trust tidelands, and the legal implications of constitutional amendments guaranteeing citizens a right to hunt and fish. In addition to his research and advisory duties, Duff teaches courses on Natural Resources Law as well as Coastal and Ocean Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law. Kristen M. Fletcher joined the Sea Grant legal Program as Research Counsel in 1997. She also serves as Editor of Water Log and Co-Editor of the Newsletter for the Section on Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law of the Mississippi Bar.