NMFS Northeast Region

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Eastern States Eligible for Right Whale Recovery Grants

Gloucester, Mass. – Eastern coastal states can get some help from NOAA Fisheries and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in their efforts to restore the nation's most endangered large whale population. About $1.5 million in grants are available this year for state-sponsored research, management, or education projects that can improve prospects for recovery of North Atlantic right whale.

NOAA Fisheries is the federal agency with responsibility for large whale protection and recovery. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is a not-for-profit organization operates the National Whale Conservation Fund under the direction of the National Whale Conservation Fund Advisory Council, a panel of conservation leaders and representatives of cooperating entities.

The Atlantic Coast States Cooperative Planning for Right Whale Recovery grant program is in its second year. It is intended to support innovative research, management and education projects as well new partnerships. "For those states not yet participating in a permanent partnership agreement with NOAA for endangered marine species projects, this program represents a good way to test how such an agreement might benefit new partners," says NOAA Fisheries Northeast Regional Administrator Pat Kurkul.

The program is a cooperative effort between NOAA Fisheries and NFWF, and a special project of the foundation's National Whale Conservation Fund. Applications for this year's round of awards are due by June 2. Details on the program and submission guidelines are posted here: http://www.nfwf.org/programs/whale_right.htm

The program is open to any coastal state government agency. Funding priorities include: ship strike mitigation, cooperative enforcement, reducing threats posed by fixed fishing gear, disentanglement, education and outreach. Applicants are encouraged to build on existing cooperative efforts with NOAA Fisheries or to enter into additional collaboration with other states and/or federal agencies. Matching funds are not required.

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NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation's living marine resources through scientific research, management, enforcement, and the conservation of marine mammals and other protected marine species and their habitat. To learn more about NOAA Fisheries, please visit http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization established by Congress in 1984. The Foundation operates the National Whale Conservation Fund under the direction of the National Whale Conservation Fund Advisory Council, a panel of conservation leaders and representatives of cooperating entities.