F23AS00028 National Outreach and Communication Program

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking proposals from applicants to implement the National Outreach and Communication Program (NOCP) for sportfishing and boating. The National Outreach and Communication Program was established by the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178) to reverse declining trends in participation rates in angling and boating in the early 1990's. Everyone deserves access to clean, safe, and healthy recreational fishing and boating opportunities. Fishing and boating participation are important to our nation's economy and fund much of our nation's aquatic resource conservation through the sale of state fishing licenses and the grant programs funded from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. Proposals must address the primary purposes of the NOCP, which are to: Improve communications with anglers, boaters, and the general public regarding angling and boating opportunities. Reduce barriers to access and participation in angling and boating activities. Advance the adoption of sound angling and boating practices in the U.S. Promote conservation and the responsible use of the nation's aquatic resources. Further safety in angling and boating. Successful proposals will present a data-driven, consensus-based national outreach strategy that reduces barriers, improves communication, advances sound practices, and promotes conservation and safety. Not all of the purposes of the NOCP must be addressed equally, but they should all be taken into consideration. A data-driven, consensus-based approach should consider the full landscape of potential stakeholders - including state and federal agencies, industry, non-governmental organizations, community groups, and the angling and boating community. Proposals should be sure to thoughtfully consider the needs of underserved and underrepresented communities. In 1998 the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council (Council) developed a National Outreach and Communication Program Strategic Plan (Strategic Plan) to enhance recreational fishing and boating opportunities and heighten public awareness about the need to protect and conserve the nation's aquatic resources. That plan identified five program objectives that could be used to achieve the goals of the NOCP: Create a top-of-mind campaign to develop awareness, trial and continued participation. Educate people as to how and where to boat and fish. Target market segments and create messages which address each segment's specific needs. Educate stakeholders on marketing, outreach and implementation of strategies to targeted user groups. Make availability of and access to boating and fishing locations easy and simple. References to "you" or "your" in this announcement refer to applicants completing the application and any potential subgrantee, if applicable. References to "we" or "us" in this announcement typically refer to the Service.