FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR
INTERJURISDICTIONAL AND ANADROMOUS FISHERIES
(GRANT-IN-AID) PROGRAM ACTIVITIES IN 1995 AND 1996

The Anadromous Fish Conservation Act of 1965

This law authorizes the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with States and other non-Federal interests for the conservation, development, and enhancement of the anadromous fishery resources of the nation, including those in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. The program is administered at the Federal level by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The amount of funds that may be used to finance projects varies: For most projects Federal funds account for 50 percent of the cost, but Federal funds can support 66.66 percent of the cost when two or more States cooperate, and up to 90 percent Federal funding can be made available when the project supports an interstate or a Federal fisheries management plan. State fishery agencies, colleges, universities, private companies and other non-Federal interests in 31 States bordering the oceans or the Great Lakes may participate under this act. All projects must be coordinated with and cleared through the appropriate State fishery agency.

The Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986

The Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986 is a formula-based financial assistance program, with two overall purposes: (1) to promote and encourage State activities in support of the management of Interjurisdictional resources, and (2) to promote the management of interjurisdictional fishery resources throughout their range. Any state may, either directly or through an Interstate Commission, submit a research proposal that supports management of fishery resources that: (1) occur in waters under the jurisdiction of one or more States and in the Exclusive Economic Zone; (2) are managed under an interstate Fishery Management Plan; (3) or migrate between the waters under the jurisdiction of two or more States bordering on the Great Lakes. Federal share of project costs may be granted up to 75 percent, or 90 percent, when States have adopted fishery regulations that are consistent with an Interstate or Federal fishery management plan for the species to which the study applies. Projects to restore resources damaged by natural resource disasters, or enforcement agreements of up to $25,000 with State management agencies, may be financed by 100 percent Federal funds. However, the 1992 statutory amendments required a 75/25 Federal-State split for disaster restoration projects. Also, Section 308(d) was amended in 1996 through Public Law 104-134 to allow the Secretary of Commerce more discretion to provide funding to persons engaged in commercial fishing who are harmed by resource disasters.

A large portion of the funds under the IJ and the AFC Acts are spent on obtaining catch and effort statistics and other fish stock assessment information. This information is used to support management decisions both at the State level and those required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.

Contact: Trisha Culver (562) 980-4239