NOAA Fisheries has announced over USD 11 million in grants for forty projects under the Saltonstall-Kennedy 2023 Competitive Grant Program. Its objective is to support and promote U.S. aquaculture and fisheries, specifically the promotion and marketing of fish markets.
NOAA's Saltonstall-Kennedy program has been collaborating with projects of individuals, institutions, tribes, and businesses across the country for almost four decades, and this year was no exception. These funds seek to address the needs of fishing communities by providing further growth opportunities.
More than two hundred proposals were submitted for the grant under two main categories. The first is "Promotion, Development and Marketing and Science," and the second is "Technology that promotes the sustainable production and harvesting of seafood products in the U.S."
Now, after the review of the first selections are known. As NOAA's data capture these, at least three subject matter experts reviewed 132 full proposals requesting more than $36 million during the technical merit review phase. Of these, the top ones from each region were referred to the U.S. Fisheries Advisory Committee for 2023 funding.
"We were pleased to help stand up the Committee so quickly so that we could incorporate the expertise of committee members from around the country into the grant selection process," said Jim Landon, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations at NOAA Fisheries.
Thus, the forty selected proposals represent the top projects best positioned to meet this objective. Although application approval and recommended funding are not final, they are one step closer to approval and receiving the funds to start.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), under the U.S. Department of Commerce, has a well-defined mission encompassing the understanding and prediction of climate, weather, ocean, and coastal changes. They strive to share this knowledge with others while conserving and managing coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. NOAA's website proudly states their role as an agency that enhances life through science.
With significant influence, NOAA holds key leadership positions in shaping international policies related to oceans, fisheries, climate, space, and weather. NOAA provides weather forecasts, storm warnings, climate monitoring, fisheries management, and coastal restoration services. Moreover, NOAA's services drive economic vitality, impacting over one-third of America's GDP.