Georgia Sea Grant Legal Fellows tackle challenging environmental questions

Georgia Sea Grant Legal Fellows tackle challenging environmental questions Monday, January 14, 2019 Three School of Law third-year students – Danielle Goshen, Julia M. Shelburne and Benjamin “Ben” Wilde – are serving as Georgia Sea Grant Legal Fellows and are conducting research to address critical environmental, economic and social concerns primarily affecting coastal Georgia. Goshen is researching how sea level rise will impact local governments in the provision of sewer services and how current oyster regulations may be limiting Georgia\u27s seafood industry, while Shelburne is examining shore protection laws and laws protecting coastal marsh and tidelands in the southeastern United States. Wilde’s work seeks to mitigate flooding hazards in Georgia’s Liberty County by identifying and remediating legal impediments to resilient infrastructure practices. Shelburne says her favorite aspect of the fellowship is the problem solving required. “My job is to identify potential legal and policy solutions to complex problems affecting coastal communities. This puzzle rarely fits perfectly, but I enjoy the challenge,” she said. The Georgia Sea Grant Legal Program is a partnership between UGA\u27s Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant plus UGA’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Through the fellowship program, students gain practical experience collaborating with local policymakers, scientists and individuals in the business community, and perform analysis to inform decision making. The fellows are assisted by institute faculty as they conduct research, analyze coastal issues and develop educational and outreach materials