Northeast Region Marine Mammal Grant Program

The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) was enacted in 1972 largely in response to concerns that human activities were contributing to the decline of the populations of certain marine mammal species. The underlying focus of the MMPA is the implementation of policies to prevent the decline of marine mammal species beyond the point where they would stop being functioning parts of their ecosystems. The MMPA prohibits the taking of any marine mammal in U.S. waters, with the exception of certain cases such as through permitted activities, where "take" is defined as hunting, harassing, capturing, or killing a marine mammal or attempting to do so. The MMPA is unique in that its underlying intent is the management of marine mammal stocks to help them achieve their optimum sustainable populations within their ecosystems, rather than managing for the benefit of commercial exploitation. The MMPA was amended in 1994 to provide certain exceptions to the take prohibitions, establish provisions for the preparation of marine mammal stock assessment reports, implement a program addressing interactions between commercial fisheries and marine mammals, and institute studies of pinniped interactions with fisheries. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is charged with carrying out the mandates of the MMPA for the protection of whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions, while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is charged with protecting walruses, manatees, otters, and polar bears. The Marine Mammal Program within the NMFS Northeast Region's Protected Resources Division (PRD) carries out the mandates of the MMPA, and is charged with protecting the whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seals that occur within the Northeast region (Maine through Virginia). Many of the program's activities focus on addressing human-caused impacts to marine mammals, including vessel strikes and fishing gear interactions, and managing behaviors associated with marine mammal viewing activities, such as whale watches and recreational boating. The program also includes a marine mammal health and stranding response component, which includes coordinating response and data collection efforts for stranded animals and learning more about factors affecting the health of marine mammals. Finally, an important component of the Marine Mammal Program is outreach and education efforts to support all of its sub-programs, including regulated parties like fishermen and marine mammal viewing groups like whale watch vessels. For more information about the Marine Mammal Program in the Northeast Region, visit http://www.nero.noaa.gov/prot_res/mmp/. NMFS seeks the submission of proposals addressing the research and management needs that have been identified for the Marine Mammal Program in the Northeast. A wide variety of applicants are eligible to submit proposals, including state agencies, non-profit organizations, fishermen, stranding network partners, and others. This document describes how to submit proposals for funding in Fiscal Year 2011 and how NMFS will evaluate proposals and determine those that will be recommended for funding.