Marine Fisheries Initiative

To provide financial assistance for research and development projects that will provide information for the full and wise use and enhancement of fishery resources in the Southeast U. S. Gulf of America and the South Atlantic beginning with the State

To provide financial assistance for research and development projects that will provide information for the full and wise use and enhancement of fishery resources in the Southeast U. S. Gulf of America and the South Atlantic beginning with the State of North Carolina south to Florida. In addition, beginning in Fiscal Year 1998 similar assistance is provided for the coastal New England states.

States or local governments, universities, private enterprise, individuals or any other entity, nonprofit or otherwise, if such entity is a citizen of the United States within the meaning of Section 2 of the Shipping Act, 1916, as amended, 46 U.S.C. 802.

Federal, State and local governments, universities, private enterprise, nonprofit or profit organizations, and the general public.

Funds can be used to develop harvest methods, economic analyses of fisheries, processing methods, fish stock assessment and fish stock enhancement. Projects are restricted to the fisheries in the Southeast Region including the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic beginning with North Carolina, South Carolina to Florida. Funds are not used for loans. Also, projects in the coastal New England States will be considered. In the Northeast, project priorities have varied during the first two years of funding availability. During Fiscal Year 1999, the area of emphasis was new methods or techniques to improve the ability of scientists to identify the stock structure of selected species of fish and shellfish to improve fisheries management.

The money must be spent during the award period. Funds are released in advance or by reimbursement, as agreed to in the Standard Terms and Conditions document required for each grant.

Refer to program guidelines

Priority in program emphasis will be placed upon funding projects that have the greatest probability of recovering, maintaining, improving, or developing fisheries, improving our understanding of factors affecting recruitment success, generating increased values from fisheries, and generating increased recreational opportunity and harvest potential. Projects will be evaluated as to the likelihood of achieving these benefits through both short-term and long-term research projects with consideration of the magnitude of the eventual economic benefit that may be realized.

Proposals will be reviewed, evaluated and ranked by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The ranking is divided into two groups; (a) recommended; and (b) not recommended. They are then presented to a panel of fishery experts and to the MARFIN Panel. The Panel will individually submit their funding recommendations to the Regional Administrator of the appropriate Region. The Regional Administrator in consultation with the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries will determine funding availability and select the projects to be funded. The selected proposals will be reviewed and negotiated by the appropriate Regional Office and the assigned Technical Monitor. A complete application will be forwarded to the NOAA Grants Officer for approval and award.

A date range will change depending on the review process. Usually within 180 calendar days from the receipt of a complete and acceptable application but may exceed that timeline.

No renewal. However, an approved on-going project can be extended by submission of an amendment request. Multi-year awards of up to three years may be approved. Once awarded, multi-year projects will not compete for funding in subsequent years. Funding for multi-year projects beyond the first year is contingent upon the availability of program funds in subsequent fiscal years, and the extent to which the recipient meets project objectives and reporting requirements.

No formal appeal procedure. If application is unacceptable the reasons are fully stated to the applicant. If the applicant desires to resubmit application, project must be revised in accordance with recommended changes.