The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) recently announced $521,833 in grants to support sustainable fisheries through fishermen and community-led projects in California, Florida, Louisiana, Alaska, Massachusetts, and Hawaii. The grants will generate $780,287 in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of more than $1.3 million.
The grants were awarded through the Fisheries Innovation Fund (FIF), a partnership between NFWF and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
This year’s projects will reduce bycatch, address the needs of recreational fisheries, and enhance sustainable economic opportunities for fishing communities around the United States.
Grant recipients will build capacity among fishermen and fishing communities, promote full utilization of annual catch limits, and help implement marine aquaculture by developing new markets, increasing fishing access, minimizing bycatch and reducing discard mortality.
FIF was established in 2010 to increase revenue and provide sustainable access and fishing opportunities for both commercial and recreational fishermen in the United States.
Since its inception, FIF has awarded $10.4 million to 104 projects in the Northeast, the mid-Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast, Hawaii, Alaska and the Great Lakes.
A complete list of the 2018 grants made through FIF is available at: https://www.nfwf.org/fisheriesfund/Documents/2018grantslate.pdf.
source: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation