NOAA Awards More Than $800,000 To Alabama For Shrimp Fisheries Support

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration granted $825,780 to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to provide assistance to shrimp fishermen. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

The grant will finance a project to provide financial assistance and disaster relief to shrimp fishermen who have been in compliance with turtle excluder devices and bycatch reduction device regulations. It will also develop a marketing campaign to promote Alabama wild-caught shrimp and establish a seafood-testing program to protect consumers.

“Funding from this NOAA grant will provide shrimp fishermen with the tools that they need to continue fishing in a sustainable manner,” 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 state of Alabama to manage its coastal resources while actively supporting efforts that reinforce 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.