NOAA offers Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grants for Fisheries Management

The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program provides financial assistance through the Ruth D. Gates Coral Reef Conservation Grants – Fishery Management Council Cooperative Agreements (FMCCA) to the Regional Fishery Management Councils for projects to conserve and manage coral reef fisheries, as authorized under the Coral Reef Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. § 6410. Projects funded through the FMCCA are for activities that: 1) Improve compliance with coral reef fisheries laws and essential fish habitat designations; 2) Provide better scientific information to improve the management of shallow coral reef fisheries and associated essential fish habitat; 3) Advance ecosystem-based fisheries management though the application of existing data and fisheries management tools. Proposals selected for funding through this solicitation will be implemented through a one-year cooperative agreement. The role of NOAA in the FMCCA is to help identify potential projects to improve sustainable management of shallow coral reef fisheries and ecosystems, strengthen the development and implementation of the projects, and assist in coordination of these efforts with federal, state, territory or commonwealth management authorities and various coral reef user groups. Approximately $1,000,000 is expected to be available for FMCCA in FY 2025. The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program anticipates that awards will range from $125,000-$300,000. NOAA will not accept proposals with a federal request over $350,000.