Build local capacity and reduce fishers' vulnerability to climate change impacts

The federal Cooperative Agreement award, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (CFDA 10.902 Soil and Water Conservation), aims to build local capacity and reduce fishers' vulnerability to climate change impacts in Puerto Rico. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the prime awardee, will receive $199,995.00 from September 30, 2024 to September 30, 2026 to execute the following key activities:

• Provide capacity building support through the Strengths of Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration (SOAR) network
• Finance aquaculture infrastructure to facilitate sustainable farming
• Educate on restorative and sustainable aquaculture practices
• Improve access to sustainable farming inputs for local fishers

TNC has also issued a $XXX,XXX sub-award to the Institute for Socio-Ecological Research, Inc., a Hispanic American-owned non-profit organization, to catalyze the development of a restorative aquaculture industry and build local capacity in Puerto Rico.

In order to that, TNC proposes the below capacity building activities learning on strengths of supporting oyster aquaculture and restoration 's (soar) network and provide support through capacity building activities, finance for aquaculture infrastructure, education on restorative / sustainable practices and improve access to sustainable farming inputs.