Project Grant SAQMIP24GR5278

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) was awarded a $6,910,276 Cooperative Agreement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Unallied Science Program (CFDA 11.472). The project aims to test the feasibility of removing vertical lines in fixed gear fisheries to reduce the risk of large whale entanglement. The project goals are to provide fixed gear fishermen with experience using technologies that reduce protected species risk, assist gear...

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $3,217,367 Cooperative Agreement grant under the NOAA Marine Debris Program to the Center for Coastal Studies, Inc. (doing business as Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies), a non-profit organization, to establish a regional coalition across New England to address abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) and end-of-life fishing gear. The 3-year project will involve conducting at-sea sonar surveys, grappling for...

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $5,526,672 Cooperative Agreement under the NOAA Marine Debris Program (CFDA 11.999) to Ocean Conservancy Inc. to implement a multi-faceted project to remove, prevent, and monitor large marine debris and abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ghost gear) across the United States. The project involves targeted debris removal efforts led by key partners in Alaska and Florida, a competitive sub-grant program supporting 10-20...

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $1,513,141 Cooperative Agreement to The Ocean Foundation under the CFDA 11.999 Marine Debris Program. The 4-year project will implement large-scale removals of lost or abandoned derelict fishing gear, with a goal of 200 removals to collect an estimated 160,000 lbs of debris from the seafloor in the U.S. Caribbean. The project will also develop outreach and education activities with local fishers and rangers, implement a fishing...

The Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $299,707.00 Cooperative Agreement under the Sea Grant Support (CFDA 11.417) program to the University of Maine System Division of the University of Maine to develop and coordinate a Maine Marine Debris Community Action Coalition. The key objectives of the two-year project are to: 1) identify and develop improved methods and technological designs for processing and reusing or refabricating marine debris,...

This $1,537,238 Cooperative Agreement award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Sea Grant Support (CFDA 11.417) program aims to quantify the distribution of marine debris and suspected plastics (MD&SP) in coastal oceans along the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. The project will develop a new marine data analytics and prediction system to provide actionable information for large-scale MD&SP collection and removal. Key activities include developing...

This Project Grant award from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Unallied Science Program (CFDA 11.472) provides $137,574 to the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to conduct research and public engagement aimed at improving the understanding of migratory patterns, demographics, and population estimates for Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon in the Gulf of Maine. The key activities to be delivered through this 3-year project include: 1) maximizing the...

This cooperative agreement award of $299,100 from the Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration seeks to identify methods for protecting fish catches from whale depredation and develop low-cost protective designs that can be deployed using current longline fishing techniques. The International Pacific Halibut Commission will conduct a workshop with industry stakeholders to identify the top two or three catch protection designs. Functional prototypes of the selected...

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $386,085 Cooperative Agreement to the Coonamessett Farm Foundation, Inc. to reduce incidental seabird mortality from commercial fisheries in the U.S. Atlantic region. The project aims to 1) identify areas and times when seabird interactions with fisheries are most intense, and 2) test voluntary fishing practice modifications to reduce seabird bycatch. In addition to quantifying the efficacy of seabird bycatch reduction strategies, the project will...

This Cooperative Agreement award, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Sea Grant Support program (CFDA 11.417), aims to address environmental problems caused by plastic use in coastal habitat restoration. The $2,635,122 project will evaluate the performance, longevity, and environmental impacts of plastic-free materials like basalt fiber mesh, biopolymer mesh, and cement-infused jute, compared to traditional plastic mesh, through field and laboratory...