NOAA Fisheries and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation are soliciting projects to support the protection of coastal and marine fish habitats through NFHP Fish Habitat Partnerships. Protection under NFHP consists of voluntary and non-regulatory actions that maintain, or prevent the decline of, aquatic habitat and aquatic resources that depend on those habitats.
Successful proposals will provide protection of coastal and marine fish habitats through cooperative, non-regulatory approaches as a primary benefit of the project; demonstrate how proposed actions will result in quantifiable fish habitat protection; address a strategic habitat protection priority of one or more of the eight coastally focused Fish Habitat Partnerships, as identified in a partnership’s strategic plan; support knowledge transfer and lessons learned to other entities protecting fish habitat; and be supported by the relevant NFHP Fish Habitat Partnership, local constituencies, and affected landowners.
All persons, organizations, and agencies (excluding federal government) working on projects to protect coastal and marine fish habitats are eligible to apply for funding. Federal agencies may not receive funds, but may be listed as partners on an application.
A total of $135,000 in funding is available. Awards are likely to fall within the $15,000 to $50,000 range. Applicants are encouraged to provide a non-federal match of $2 for every $1 of grant funds requested. Eligible non-federal matching sources can include cash, in-kind donations, and/or volunteer labor.