NOAA Awards More Than $900,000 To The University Of South Alabama For Oyster Restoration And Research

NOAA AWARDS MORE THAN $900,000 TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA FOR OYSTER RESTORATION AND RESEARCH

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded $926,000 to the University of South Alabama to support the continuation of the university’s Alabama Oyster Reef Restoration Program. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The award, provided by the NOAA Restoration Center, will enhance current efforts to restore and research the oyster reef system in Mobile Bay that was created by NOAA funding in previous years. Additionally, University of South Alabama will direct and supervise the placement of oyster shell in Perdido Bay and will monitor the oyster reefs created in both bays for survivability, productivity and benefit to fisheries. The program consists of three phases: creating experimental oyster reefs, monitoring reefs to determine the optimal parameters for reef success, and conducting research to study various aspects of oysters in Alabama with a focus on recovering stocks.

“This grant funds the research and restoration efforts necessary to responsibly manage and protect the oyster population in southern Alabama,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “NOAA and the Bush Administration are working to improve our fishery resources through local and regional initiatives like that of the University of South Alabama’s oyster management program.”

The NOAA Restoration Center, within the NOAA Fisheries Office of Habitat Conservation, promotes strong partnerships at the national, regional and local level to enhance living marine resources to benefit the nation's fisheries by restoring their habitat. For more information about the Restoration Center visit: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration.

Each year, NOAA awards approximately $900 million in grants to members of the academic, scientific and business communities to assist the agency in fulfilling its mission to study the Earth’s natural systems to predict environmental change, manage ocean resources, protect life and property and provide decision makers with reliable scientific information. NOAA goals and programs reflect a commitment to these basic responsibilities of science and service to the nation for the past 34 years.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. To learn more about NOAA, please visit http://www.noaa.gov.

On the Web:

NOAA - http://www.noaa.gov

NOAA Restoration Center - http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/habitat/restoration.