MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES - Expertise

Coastal zone management

Today’s rich natural resources and coastal zones support fisheries, recreation, tourism, shipping, energy production and scientific research, as well as harbor infrastructures that support the wellbeing of citizens. IMSG recognizes that there are many competing demands for limited coastal areas and resources, and those demands come with significant environmental impacts. We help businesses and governments at all levels to effectively use, manage and protect coastal zones in sustainable ways.

IMSG offers a wide range of coastal zone management services to address these challenges. We can help you identify and protect critical coastal resources; recognize and protect biodiversity and ecosystem health in coastal zones; support sustainable development and renewable energy; analyze vulnerabilities of the coastal zones to hazards; help coastal communities identify their challenges (e.g., shoreline erosion), develop mitigations, and enhance resilience to natural hazards such as hurricanes and flooding; and plan for sea level rise adaptation.

Fishery habitat conservation

IMSG protects and restores coastal habitats to provide sustainable fisheries economies in various regions around the world. Our services include:

• Mapping and assessing the exposure and sensitivity of fisheries habitats to the impacts of coastal hazards (e.g., hazardous substance discharges, harmful algae blooms, and hypoxia)
• Assessing socioeconomic and health impacts to fisheries due to overfishing
• Developing mitigation solutions from damage to fisheries habitat
• Responding to emergency incidents, such as ship groundings and chemical spills
• Planning and executing fisheries habitat restoration efforts
• Conducting surveys and data collection (e.g., tagging and monitoring studies, radio and satellite telemetry) for fisheries, sea birds and marine mammals
• Husbandry of endangered species and rehabilitation of injured wildlife

Coral reef conservation

Our team works to combat major threats to this valuable ecosystem by working with local communities and partners (e.g., Pacific and Atlantic U.S. islands) to manage this important resource. Our services include:

• Training local communities and natural resource managers on coral reef conservation techniques and to mitigate threats to coral reef ecosystems
• Working with U.S. states and territories to create management plans, research priorities, and manage grant activities
• Coordinating and supporting international activities in coral reef conservation