Intent

Intent. The intent and purpose of these rules is: A. To aid in fulfilling the public trust responsibilities of the State of Mississippi for the administration, control and leasing of public trust tidelands; B. To ensure maximum benefit of public trust tidelands for all citizens of the State of Mississippi; C. To ensure public access to public trust tidelands; D. To administer, manage, protect, enhance and restore public trust tidelands so that the public purposes to which they are devoted can be accomplished. These purposes include, but are not limited to, navigation; transportation; commerce; industry; fishing; bathing, swimming and other recreational activities; development of mineral resources; environmental protection and preservation; the enhancement of aquatic, avarian and marine life; and sea agriculture; E. To ensure that all public and private occupants of public trust tidelands who are not statutorily exempt provide adequate compensation for the privilege of such occupancy.