Each council will receive approximately $1–$3 million.
NOAA Fisheries and the US Department of Commerce is allocating $20 million to fishery management council projects to address climate change impacts. Therefore, and depending on the final projects proposals, each council will receive approximately $1–$3 million.
This funding was first announced in October 2023 and is part of the Inflation Reduction Act which constitute the largest climate investment in US history (a total of $3.3 billion) announced in June 2023.
Also, NOAA and the same department confirmed in April the allocation of $60 million to work on tribal needs and mitigate climate change impact on Pacific salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River.
The US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo recalled the crucial role of these councils: "Regional fishery management councils are some of NOAA's most critical partners that help develop conservation and management measures for our nation’s marine fisheries."
In the same line, Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries assured: "We are committed to continue our work with our council partners, using the best available science to develop and implement fisheries management strategies that are more adaptive to climate impacts."
The councils have identified the needs of the fisheries to tackle the challenges of climate change and commit to sustainability:
Operationalize fish climate vulnerability assessments or other scientific products.
Operationalize recommendations from climate scenario planning efforts.
Develop and implement management changes or processes that address climate vulnerability or improve climate resiliency of fisheries, including those that are important to underserved communities.
Develop and implement measures or processes that increase responsiveness of allocations or other management measures to climate impacts.
Develop and advance climate-related fisheries management planning and implementation efforts, including those in support of underserved communities.
