Gulf Shores has been awarded a $25,000 Working Waterfront grant from Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grants. The money will be used to pay a legal student from an Alabama or Mississippi law school to conduct research on specific topics related to working waterfronts.

Andy Bauer, Director of Planning and Zoning for Gulf Shores recommended to council members on Monday that the city accept the grant.

“We have narrowed that research down to three items including locating, funding and operating a seafood market along the Intracoastal Waterway, identifying ways to publicize better incorporate the Plash Island seafood industry into the City of Gulf Shores, and to identify potential sites for public access and/or boat launches,” Bauer said.

According to Bauer, the project would be completed by December, with public meetings being held periodically throughout the process.

“We would invited the public and hopefully get some good input about different ways to address each of these topics.”

During August, the Auburn University Marine Extension Research Center staff will facilitate two meetings among working waterfront stakeholders, business and property owners and the city to gather input and needs regarding the research and planning tools represented.

Bauer explained that a working waterfront can range from an industrial working waterfront such as what would be found in a large metropolitan area to the smaller seafood related businesses that are found in the Gulf Shores area.

“They are working to preserve those industries and that way of life so they don’t just get lost,” said Bauer. “There are some states that actually have ordinances and regulations that specifically protect these areas to help preserve some of their history. In Gulf Shores we have probably lost more working waterfront than we have preserved, so this will probably be a good way to preserve what we still have left.”