The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program is offering this grant to support coral reef conservation and sustainable fishery management cooperative agreements.

The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program, 16 U.S.C. §§ 6401-6409, provides financial assistance through the Fishery Management Council Coral Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements (FMCCRCCA) to the Regional Fishery Management Councils for projects to conserve and manage coral reef fisheries, as authorized under the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000. Projects funded through the FMCCRCCA are for activities that: 1) Provide better scientific information to improve the management of shallow coral reef fisheries and associated essential fish habitat; 2) Work collaboratively with state and territorial fishery management agencies, fishers, local communities, and other key stakeholders to build capacity and support for coral reef fishery management; and 3) Advance ecosystem-based fisheries management though the incorporation of existing data into fisheries management tools. Proposals selected for funding through this solicitation will be implemented through a three-year cooperative agreement. The role of NOAA in the FMCCRCCA 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 $1,250,000 is expected to be available for FMCCRCCA in FY 2022. The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program anticipates that awards will range from $125,000-$500,000/year. Continued funding depends on future appropriations, NOAA/CRCP priorities, and successful recipient performance in the first year(s) of the award.