NOAA Awards $1.1 Million To Maryland Sea Grant College Program

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded $1,168,582 to University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science to support programs and research conducted by the Maryland Sea Grant College Program, a cooperative effort of Maryland universities and laboratories. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The omnibus award through NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Program supports core functions of the Maryland Sea Grant College Program in the areas of research, education, extension and communication relating to marine sciences in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region. The grant will fund activities focused on program administration and development in coastal and marine education, extension and communications, coastal ecosystem health and public safety, aquaculture, biotechnology, seafood production and economic leadership.

“Maryland relies heavily on its marine resources as a major part of its economy. This NOAA grant provides funding to ensure that decision makers will have the necessary science to best manage marine issues in Maryland through research and education activities,” 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 committed to working with the academic community to improve our understanding of the environment.”

Established in 1977, Maryland Sea Grant is part of a network of 30 university-based Sea Grant programs around the country with similar missions that are maintained by NOAA. Hosted by the University of Maryland's College Park campus, Maryland Sea Grant is administered by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, on behalf of the thirteen campus University System of Maryland. By serving as a gateway to relevant and reliable scientific information, Sea Grant helps assure that individuals can make informed choices about their use and stewardship of marine resources.

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 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.

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