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NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) funding supports ocean and coastal management through a variety of programs.
Coastal Management Programs: OCRM awards four types of funding to the nation’s 34 state and territory state coastal zone management programs, to protect, restore, and responsibly develop coastal communities and resources. In FY 2012, state coastal management programs received over $65 million if federal funding that supported a variety of critical coastal management projects.
- Administrative Grants: Under Section 306 of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), OCRM provides 1:1 matching funds to states to administer their coastal zone management programs.
- Coastal Resource Improvement Program: Under Section 306A of the CZMA, state coastal zone management programs may choose to spend up to half of their Section 306 funds on small-scale construction or land acquisition projects that enhance public access to the coast, facilitate redevelopment of urban waterfronts, or preserve and restore coastal resources.
- Coastal Zone Enhancement Grants: Under Section 309 of the CZMA, OCRM provides zero match Coastal Zone Enhancement Program funds to state coastal zone management programs to enhance their programs in one or more areas of national significance.
- Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program (Technical Assistance): Congress appropriates 1:1 matching funds to help state coastal zone management programs implement their Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Programs under Section 310 (Technical Assistance) of the CZMA.
National Estuarine Research Reserves: OCRM provides funds to 28 state National Estuarine Research Reserves under Section 315 of the CZMA to operate and manage the reserves. The funds support research, education, stewardship, system-wide monitoring and graduate research fellowships at the reserves. Funding is also used to acquire land for reserves and construct reserve facilities as needed. States must provide 1:1 matching funds for land acquisition projects. Federal funds for other operation, management, and construction activities must be matched by states at a 7:3 federal to state ratio.
Through the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP), OCRM provides 1:1 matching funds to eligible coastal states and local governments to protect important coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecologic, historic, or aesthetic values. Coastal states develop CELCP plans to identify the most important areas for acquisition. States nominate their best projects to a national, competitive selection process.
The Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Center is charged with establishing a comprehensive national system of marine protected areas. The MPA center works in partnership with the Department of the Interior and other federal, state, territorial, tribal and local agencies and focuses on implementing and developing the national system and strengthening capabilities of existing MPA programs and their sites. Funding also supports national MPA system-related scientific, technical, information, planning, coordination, outreach and communication activities.
Coral Reef Conservation Program: The Coral Reef Conservation Program provides funding to more than 35 offices across NOAA for coral reef conservation and supports three coral reef research institutes. The program also coordinates two grant programs that fund governments, academic institutions, fisheries management councils, non-government organizations, and community groups.
- NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant Program: Each year, subject to the availability of funds, this program supports grants in these categories: State and Territory Coral Reef Ecosystem Management; State and Territory Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring; Coral Reef Ecosystem Research; Projects to Improve or Amend Coral Reef Fishery Management Plans; General Coral Reef Conservation; and International Coral Reef Conservation.
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Coral Reef Conservation Fund: The Coral Reef Conservation Fund is a partnership between NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The Fund works to build public-private partnerships to reduce and prevent degradation of coral reefs and associated reef habitats.