COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES South Carolina Sea Grant's annual Beach Sweep/River Sweep litter cleanup program saved taxpayers $120,000 in 2002. Over the past 14 years, more than 75,000 volunteers have collected 728 tons of trash, and have saved state taxpayers more than $1.6 million. More Sea Grant Impacts… Sea Grant Coastal Community Bulletin (Archive of Coastal Community Bulletins)

Themes Aquaculture Aquatic Invasive Species Biotechnology Coastal Communities & Economies Coastal Natural Hazards Digital Ocean Ecosystems & Habitats Fisheries Marine Aquatic Science Literacy Seafood Science & Technology Urban Coasts National Priority Areas Fisheries Extension Harmful Algal Blooms Oyster Disease Research

The Issue: Coastal communities depend on healthy ecosystems and economics for their survival.

Sea Grant: Sea Grant’s mission is to design and implement comprehensive research programs in order to better understand the interconnectivity between the economy and the environment, and to implement outreach programs that expand the scientific understanding of community planners, business leaders, and citizens. Working with communities, Sea Grant aims to build local capacity, improve community planning and management practices, organize regional trade groups, and develop public safety education programs. Furthermore, Sea Grant provides technical assistance to help communities evaluate their tourism potential, plan waterside infrastructure development, analyze policies and incentives to encourage public access, and adapt new technologies to meet emerging business opportunities.