NOAA Coral Reef Funding Opportunity Announced
The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program, as authorized under the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, is now soliciting proposals. The program provides matching grants for coral reef conservation projects that fall under six funding categories: (1) State and Territory Coral Reef Management; (2) State and Territory Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring; (3) Coral Reef Ecosystem Research; (4) General Coral Reef Conservation; (5) Projects to Improve or Amend Coral Reef Fishery Management Plans; and (6) International Coral Reef Conservation. Each funding category has specific applicant and project eligibility criteria. Pre-applications are due Dec. 10, 2004. The full announcement is available here. For more information, contact Bill Millhouser.
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Celebrates 10th Anniversary
The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary celebrated its 10th anniversary with the grand opening of the 800-sq.-ft. Olympic Coast Discovery Center July 16-17. Former Washington Governor Mike Lowery, who was instrumental in supporting the sanctuary's designation, gave a keynote address. The new facility features several interactive exhibits and an innovative Deep Worker submersible simulator where visitors can watch video from sanctuary research missions and feel like they are piloting the underwater vehicle. For more information, contact Carol Bernthal.
NOAA Surveys Deep Water Wrecks in Gulf of Mexico
NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration, National Marine Sanctuary Program, and Office of Response and Restoration will join the Mineral Management Service on an expedition to study deep-water wrecks in the Gulf of Mexico July 29-Aug. 15. The cruise will be the most comprehensive analysis of deep-water wrecks to date, and will focus on seven known wrecks from World War II. The researchers will study the archeological and biological aspects of the wreck as well as deterioration rates and deep-water pollution. For more information, contact Ian Zelo, John Mcdonough, or Mike Overfield.
