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Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

Who We Are

Located in Ocean Springs, Miss., The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) is one of the largest marine laboratories in the southeastern United States. With a workforce of approximately 200 faculty, researchers, graduate students and support staff, GCRL conducts applied research and higher education in a diverse array of facilities on its 50-acre Halstead and 224-acre Cedar Point sites. 

Established by the Mississippi Legislature in 1948 and 1950, the GCRL is the State’s designated marine laboratory. In this role, GCRL provides scientific support to the State and the broader Gulf of Mexico region through the study of sustainable fisheries, marine aquaculture, coastal ecology and restoration, and aquatic health and conservation. Academic programming at GCRL centers around those broad research areas and includes graduate studies, the undergraduate Summer Field Program, and numerous citizen science and K-12 offerings, such as Sea Camp. 

GCRL is home to four University research and academic units:

Coastal Sciences Graduate Fellowship in Support of Diversity


Contact Us

Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

Physical Addresses

GCRL - Halstead
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, MS 39564

GCRL - Cedar Point
300 Laurel Oak Drive
Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Mailing Address

703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Campus Map

Email
gcrlFREEMississippi

Phone
228.872.4200

Fax
228.872.4292

Gulf Coast Feature

Take a closer look at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory