The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Grant

Program/Projects to Improve or Amend Coral Reef Fishery Management

Plans (CRFMPGP) provides funding to the Regional Fishery Management

Councils for projects to conserve and manage coral reef fisheries, as

authorized

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under the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 200 0. Projects

funded through the CRFMPGP are for activities that:
(1) Provide better

scientific information on the status of coral reef fisheries resources,

critical habitats of importance to coral reef fishes, and the impacts

of fishing on these species and habitats; (2) identify new management

approaches that protect coral reef biodiversity and ecosystem function

through regulation of fishing and other extractive uses; and (3)

incorporate conservation and sustainable management measures into

existing or new Federal fishery management plans for coral reef

species.

Proposals selected for funding through this solicitation will

be implemented through a Cooperative Agreement.

The role of NOAA in the

CRFMPGP is to help identify potential projects that reduce impacts of

fishing on coral reef ecosystems, strengthen the development and

implementation of the projects, and assist in coordination of these

efforts with Federal, state, territory or commonwealth management

authorities and various coral reef user groups.

Funding up to

$1,050,000 is expected to be available for CRFMPGP Cooperative

Agreements in FY 200 9. These funds will be divided equally among the

Atlantic and Pacific to maintain the geographic split required by the

Act.

The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program anticipates that awards

will range from $175,000-$525,00 0.