NOAA Awards $1.2 Million To The North Pacific Fishery Management Council For Steller Sea Lion Research

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced a $1,200,208 grant the to North Pacific Fishery Management Council to conduct research and management related to Steller sea lion populations, pollock fisheries and other managed fisheries. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department.

The grant will fund studies mandated by Congress as well as other council and NOAA initiatives related to management of the North Pacific Marine ecosystem.

“The research funded by this NOAA grant will allow the North Pacific Fishery Management Council to continue research and monitoring efforts to protect Steller sea lions while enhancing pollock and other fishery stocks,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “NOAA and the Bush Administration are working to improve our marine resources through initiatives like those reflected in the Council’s approach to managing marine resources in the North Pacific region.”

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.