Funding earmarked for aqua research
Under the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grants program, NOAA has made available approximately $10 million USD in efforts to build resilient coastal communities and sustainable marine resources. The program funds fisheries research and developmental projects in order to keep working waterfronts viability and support fishing communities.
Emphasis is being placed on “rebuilding fish stocks, maintaining and restoring healthy ocean and coastal ecosystems, and promoting the economic vitality of fishery working waterfront communities”.
“The Saltonstall-Kennedy Program helps fishing communities across the country keep their economies thriving by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries and practices,” said Eileen Sobeck, assistant NOAA administrator for fisheries. “Funds from the program keep working waterfronts vibrant and help coastal communities with conservation and management measures. We hope to see proposals from across the nation and US territories, each providing a unique approach to research and project development.”
In order to be considered for funding, projects should involve research in the areas of aquaculture, fishery data collection, techniques for reducing bycatch, adaptation to climate change, socio-economic research and promotion, development, and marketing. The projects are limited to science within the US.
The Saltonstall-Kennedy Act established a fund used by the Secretary of Commerce to provide grants or cooperative agreements for fisheries research and development projects addressing aspects of US fisheries, including, but not limited to harvesting, processing, marketing and associated business infrastructures. The objective of the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program is to address the needs of the fisheries and fishing communities in optimizing economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries and practices.
