NOAA Awards More than $800,000 to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission for Groundfish Research

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration granted $800,231 to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission to support the collection of groundfish data. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The grant will support collaboration between scientists, the fishing industry, commercial fishermen, researchers, and other stakeholders to provide groundfish data to fisheries for research. Some activities include data collection, the development of research proposals, research cruises, and the research of habitat and stock assessment.

“Funding from this NOAA grant will provide fishery managers with the information that they need to make informed decisions regarding groundfish populations,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “This grant allows the West Coast states to manage their coastal resources while actively supporting NOAA and the Bush Administration’s commitment to the environment.”

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 in order to predict environmental change, manage ocean resources, protect life and property, and provide decision makers with reliable scientific information. NOAA’s 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.