The state’s marine fisheries agency is accepting applications for proposals for the 2017-2018 funding cycle from the North Carolina Marine Resources Fund.
The fund, which receives proceeds from the sale of Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses, provides grants for projects that help manage, protect, restore, develop, cultivate and enhance the state’s marine resources.
Only universities and state and local governmental entities in North Carolina are eligible to apply. Others must partner with one of these eligible entities.
Proposals will be evaluated based on the Coastal Recreational Fishing License Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Improvement of North Carolina’s Marine Resources. The plan considers priority research needs identified in fishery management plans approved by the Marine Fisheries Commission, issues identified in the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan and research needs identified cooperatively with other agencies. The strategic plan, as well as directions for submitting a proposal and an application form, can be found on the Division of Marine Fisheries website at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/crfl-grants-projects-applications-procedures.
Projects submitted for this funding cycle should fall under one of three programmatic areas:
- Fish – Projects that estimate recreational fishing effort, harvest and mortality of important coastal recreational fish species, the socio-economic attributes of coastal recreational fisheries or the characterization of catch and release mortality;
- Habitat – Projects that improve the effectiveness of existing environmental programs or that identify, designate or protect coastal recreational fish habitat;
- People – Projects that provide increased access to recreational fisheries resources and enhancement structures or provide better public education and enrichment products.
All proposals must be received by the director of the Division of Marine Fisheries by 5 p.m. July 29. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
A pre-proposal meeting will be held at 10 a.m. June 15 at the Carteret Community College Bryant Student Center, 3505 Arendell St., Morehead City, to give potential grant applicants an overview of the grant application process and answer questions. The meeting is open to the public and potential applicants are encouraged to attend, but attendance is not required.
For more information, contact Coastal Recreational Fishing License Grant Project Coordinator Wayne Johannessen at 252-808-8004 or 800-682-2632 or Wayne.Johannessen@ncdenr.gov.