State’s advice is to stay out of the water at another MS Coast beach, 7 in total
The state has issued one water contact advisory and removed another for Mississippi Coast beaches.
The state is advising beachgoers to stay out of the water at Gulfport Harbor Beach, from 20th Avenue east to Thornton Avenue, because of bacteria levels that could make swimming unsafe, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality says.
Pass Christian Beach, though, received a clean bill of health in its most recent test, and there is no longer an advisory against water contact at that part of the Mississippi Sound.
Gulfport Harbor Beach joins six other areas with water contact advisories. Beaches are open, though going in the water could lead to illness
Areas previously found to contain the bacteria, according to MDEQ, include:
- Bay St. Louis Beach from box culvert eastward to Ballantine Street.
- Pass Christian Central Beach from Henderson Ave east to Hiern Avenue
- Pass Christian East Beach from Espy Avenue east to Hayden Avenue
- Long Beach Beach from Oak Gardens east to Girard
- Gulfport West Beach from Marie Avenue east to Camp Avenue
- Gulfport East Beach from Teagarden Avenue east to Aniston Avenue
Each of the beaches under an advisory tested positive for Enterococci either on March 24 or March 25. Additionally, the MDEQ says that swimming is not advised off Coast beaches during or within 24 hours of a significant rainfall.
This story was originally published March 26, 2026 at 2:39 PM.