Budget of the Protected Resources Program

The table below presents a recent history and the current level of the Protected Resources National Program funding from the FY 2007 through the FY 2013 President's Budget.

The President’s FY 2013 Budget Request is for $220,041,000 for the Protected Resources Program and changes that include:

Protected Species Research and Management:

• An increase of $1,603,000 for assessing and authorizing actions, such as energy exploration and development, national defense–related activities, and fishery operations, which may affect protected species. The increase will also enhance coordination of volunteer responders to unusual marine mammal mortality events and the assessment of causes and risks.

Species Recovery Grants:

• An increase of $1,986,000 to assist states with grants to carry out conservation actions such as restoring habitat, reducing or removing major causes of mortality and injury, assessing and monitoring population status and trends, and educating the public about the conservation of protected species.

Marine Mammals:

• A decrease of $3,779,000 to terminate funding for the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant program. NMFS will continue to support the rescue of large whales entangled in fishing gear; and coordinate a publicly supported volunteer stranding response network.
• A decrease of $1,518,000 for Hawaiian monk seal recovery. The FY 2012 appropriation provided additional funds for recovery which was used to conduct population assessment and survival enhancement activities in the northwest Hawaiian Islands and the main Hawaiian Islands. The FY 2013 President’s Budget request will allow for continued analysis of data and biological samples, monitoring, and limited education and outreach projects.

Sea Turtles:

• A decrease of $1,921,000 for Hawaiian sea turtles. The FY 2012 appropriation provided additional funds for recovery activities.  The FY 2013 President’s Budget proposal will build upon the knowledge gained and continue to provide technical assistance to reduce incidental capture of turtles by fisheries and conduct cooperative conservation actions with Western Pacific Territories.

Other Protected Species:

• An increase of $500,000 to support the recovery of newly listed marine fishes, plants, and invertebrates and to complete ESA listing determinations and post-listing activities (recovery plans, critical habitat designations, 4(d) rules) in a timely manner

Atlantic Salmon:

• An increase of $347,000 to support ongoing projects to remove barriers to the passage of fish, restore habitat, and study major threats to Atlantic salmon.

Pacific Salmon:

• A decrease of $743,000 for recovery activities while continuing to meet existing requirements for ESA interagency technical assistance and the development of recovery plans.
• Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund: A decrease of $15,000,000 while continuing to provide grant funding to states and tribes to support projects that prevent extinction and improve the status of ESA-listed salmonids and their habitats.

West Coast Proposal:

• A decrease of $3,082,000 to find efficiencies by reconfiguring NMFS' Southwest and Northwest Regional Offices into a single West Coast Regional Office, closing the Pacific Grove Laboratory in California, and eliminating support for Puget Sound ecosystem surveys and assessments. The affected Protected Resources Programs are:
  • Protected Species Research and Management: - $2,591,000
  • Marine Mammals: - $7,000
  • Pacific Salmon: - $484,000

More information can be found on the NOAA Budget Office website.

Table: Recent history and the current level of the Protected Resources National Program funding from FY2007-FY2013 President’s Budget. ($ in thousands)

Updated: May 7, 2012