Gulf of Mexico south of Port Fourchon, Louisiana, according to the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. US Gulf of Mexico Protraction areas Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico () is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. The U.S. states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida border the Gulf on the north, which are often referred to as
Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is the only marine research institute dedicated solely to advancing the long-term sustainable use and conservation of the world’s ninth-largest body of water. Established in 2001, HRI integrates outstanding scientific research with public policy to provide international leadership in generating and disseminating knowledge about the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem and its critical role in the economies of the North American region. HRI's Vision: A Gulf of Mexico that is ecologically and economically sustainable HRI's Mission: Science driven