Today, NOAA Fisheries announced more than $11 million in grants for 40 projects under the 2023 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Grants Program.
“These grant awards support the promotion and marketing of U.S. fisheries which supports U.S. fishing and aquaculture industries and our nation's working waterfronts,” said Jim Landon, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations at NOAA Fisheries.”
These are the first Saltonstall-Kennedy grants selected by the new American Fisheries Advisory Committee to be recommended for 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 Landon. “It was a successful experience all around.”
Demand for funding was high again this year. Initially, NOAA received 230 pre-proposals. Out of that number, at least three subject matter experts reviewed 132 full proposals requesting more than $36 million during the technical merit review phase. The top proposals in each NOAA Fisheries’ region were recommended by the American Fisheries Advisory Committee for 2023 funding.
The projects fall into two categories:
- Promotion, Development, and Marketing and Science
- Technology that Promotes Sustainable U.S Seafood Production and Harvesting
For more than 40 years, NOAA has awarded grant funding for projects under the Saltonstall-Kennedy program to individuals, institutions, organizations, tribes and businesses across the country. These funds help address the needs of fishing communities, support economic opportunities, and build and maintain resilient and sustainable fisheries.
The goal of the Saltonstall-Kennedy program is to fund projects that:
- Address the needs of fishing communities at all scales (local, regional, national)
- Optimize economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries
- Increase other opportunities to keep working waterfronts viable
The 40 selected proposals represent the top projects best positioned to meet this goal.
At this point in the selection process, the application approval and recommended funding is not final. Divisions of NOAA and the Department of Commerce must still give final approval before successful applicants receive funding.
