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A small coastal city in Georgia that thrives on tourism closed its beach, fearing carefree crowds of teenagers and college students posed too great a risk for spreading the new coronavirus. Two weeks later, the state's governor has reversed that decision, saying people weathering the outbreak need fresh air and exercise.

The Murphy administration signed an order over the weekend giving towns and counties the power to ban short-term seasonal rentals from accepting new guests – including hotels, motels and private residences – in a bid to halt the spread of COVID-19 at the Jersey Shore.

Oceanfront towns across the region have closed access to the beaches and ended all short-term rental with the hopes of slowing the spread of Covid-19. Because tourists, by definition, are not from the area an influx in population from other places would put locals at a higher risk of contracting the virus from someone visiting from another city.

Today, Governor Tate Reeves announced that a total of $51,913,975.74 has been awarded to Mississippi through the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA). The federal passage in 2006 of GOMESA created revenue sharing provisions for the four Gulf oil and gas producing States of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and their coastal political subdivisions.

In response to the effects of measures the state is taking to help minimize the spread of COVID-19, local governments looking to apply for funding to improve public access to coastal beaches and waters have been given extra time to submit their preapplication.

Santa Rosa County Commissioners approved signing an agreement Thursday, March 26 between Holley-Navarre Water, Gulf Breeze City and the Northwest Florida Water Management District that Commissioner Lane Lynchard of Gulf Breeze labeled “an absolutely huge deal for Santa Rosa County, Santa Rosa Sound, and Navarre Beach.”

A wet spring in already soaked west Michigan could spell trouble for marina businesses up and down the Lake Michigan shoreline that can't adjust the height of their boat docks as water levels are projected to continue rising.

Wastewater disposal. Flood control. Sewage piping. Sea-level rise. These are topics Broward County elected officials need to master, so there’s a need for a crash course once taking office.

Law enforcement officers from Georgetown County will be closely monitoring county beaches and waterways for the duration of the State of Emergency and enforcing Gov. Henry McMaster’s Executive Order to close all public access points because of the public health threat posed by COVID-19.

According to Larry Couch, chief of the Panama City Beach Fire Rescue, the department’s eight seasonal lifeguards are in the midst of training to protect the city’s portion of the Gulf Coast.

To protect their communities from the spread of COVID-19 and to preserve precious medical resources, some British Columbia communities are asking visitors to stay home.

Holiday towns around the country are seeing a string of beach house owners move out of major cities and into their second homes to wait out the coronavirus outbreak.

Crowds of more than 10 still gathered Saturday on Front Beach in Ocean Springs despite the threat of the new coronavirus.

ALERT: Identifying the needs in coastal communities in important. As coastal stakeholders and local government officials. Your voice is needed now. Take the ASBPA survey now.

EDISTO BEACH, SC (WCIV) — In an emergency meeting on Wednesday, the Town of Edisto Beach expanded restrictions on access by the general public.

Following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s closure of parking lots at state beaches and parks to reduce exposure to the coronavirus, the cities of Half Moon Beach and Pacifica will be closing all of its beach parking lots.

The coronavirus-related shelter at home is taking its toll on everyone in San Luis Obispo County, but things are looking especially bleak for coastal towns that rely heavily on tourism revenue for funding—revenue that is currently non-existent.

The town of New Shoreham has issued a shelter-in-place order for all of Block Island in response to the coronavirus, according to the tourism council.

In February, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Adriana Espinoza — formerly the NYC program director for the League of Conservation Voters — as the city’s first senior advisor for environmental justice.

The Town of Carolina Beach, like virtually everywhere else in the world, is trying to figure out the best way to deal with the novel coronavirus crisis. As with any elected board, there are bound to be personality clashes between members and on the north end of Pleasure Island, things have come to a head this past week.

In recent weeks, wealthy city dwellers hoping to escape the novel coronavirus have been fleeing to their second homes, exacerbating long-standing tensions between locals and summer residents. While those from out of town feel they have the right to use property they own and pay taxes on, year-round residents worry the new arrivals could be carrying the disease, and local hospitals aren’t equipped to handle an outbreak.

Officials in Santa Cruz County on Monday issued a statement urging travelers to avoid crowding the county’s beaches during the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Town of Surf City will be implementing additional measures Monday afternoon regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Blooms of smelly and unsightly sargassum seaweed have impacted the tourism industry across the Caribbean. Now, solutions must balance environmental factors and local livelihoods.

The Southern Shores town council met March 4 to discuss with their Interim Town Manager the possibility of partnering with Duck on a request for qualifications for professional services to assist in possible beach nourishment projects.

Overnight curfews set on Santa Cruz’s popular Main and Cowell beaches have been given formal approval for the coming five years by a state coastal oversight agency.

“Be a nuisance where it counts. Do your part to inform and stimulate the public to join your action. Be depressed, discouraged, and disappointed at failure and the disheartening effects of ignorance, greed, corruption and bad politics – but never give up.” -Marjory Stoneman Douglas

After seven years, the City of Jacksonville is finally getting a Chief Resiliency Officer (CRO) to coordinate efforts to mitigate climate change and rising sea levels. City Councilmember Matt Carlucci made the announcement at a Feb. 27 meeting of the Special Committee on Resiliency.

NORFOLK, Va., March 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RISE Urban Mobility Challenge offers up to $500,000 to create a next generation traffic app that offers drivers real-time flooding and rerouting information. June 1, 2020 is the deadline.

The state’s largest county is singled out.

Ready to hit Miami Beach for Spring Break? The city just announced measures to ensure locals, visitors, and tourists can enjoy the beaches while maintaining safety and residential quality of life.

In a move promoted by environmentalists and others as key to staving off the extinction of Puget Sound orcas, but opposed by the building industry, Washington may soon take a first, small step toward requiring that development benefit the environment.

A small beach town is on the verge of making a major difference.

The Gulf, science has established beyond a reasonable doubt, is coming for the rest of us.

It’s all but assumed this island will one day disappear beneath the waves.

The sea along South Carolina’s coast line is growing ravenous.

Lake Erie’s high water levels and lack of ice coverage continue to cause significant erosion along the shoreline and has prompted Saybrook Township Park officials to hire an engineering firm to study the damage.

Canadian charity GlobalMedic is spearheading efforts to get Bahamians operating, households back again in liveable problem.

Toll booths open March 1 at on-beach driving access points

The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) discussed the proposed Legislative bill creating a Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve, and what it means for the future of local decision-making and state funding. Hernando county has several state-funded aquatics projects already pending, and the future of those were also discussed.

DEM Announces $3.33 Million in Green Economy Bond Funding to Help Communities, Local Groups Protect Open Space Portsmouth Press