Group items tagged

Healthy and productive fisheries are an essential component of the U.S. economy. There is increasing concern about the impacts of climate variability and change on fish stocks, fisheries, and marine ecosystems in the U.S. Climate variability and change influences many parameters (e.g. extreme events, winds, ocean temperatures, stratification, currents, coastal precipitation, inundation, etc.) that directly and indirectly affect marine ecosystem conditions including the abundance, distribution, and productivity of fish stocks that support economically important fisheries. Sustainable fisheries management in a changing climate requires an improved understanding of how climate, fishing, and other stressors interact to affect fish stocks (including their habitats and prey), fisheries and fishing-dependent communities. To address these issues of growing concern, in 2014 the Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR) Climate Program Office and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Office of Science and Technology launched a new partnership to advance understanding of climate-related impacts on fish or other species that support economically important fisheries and fishing communities. The goal is to inform sustainable fisheries management and promote resilience of the nation's fish stocks and fisheries in a changing climate. For FY17, this OAR/NMFS partnership, through the Coastal and Ocean Climate Applications (COCA) Program, will continue to take a regional approach to improving the resilience and adaptation of fisheries in a changing climate by soliciting proposals under two competitions. The first competition solicits proposals for projects in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem (CCLME) and the second competition solicits proposals for projects in the Northeast US Continental Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (NESLME).

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program is a voluntary, incentive-based program that provides direct technical assistance and financial assistance in the form of cooperative agreements to private landowners to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat for the benefit of federal trust resources. The PFW Program is delivered through more than 250 full-time staff, active in all 50 States and territories. Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program staff coordinate with project partners, stakeholders and other Service programs to identify geographic focus areas and develop habitat conservation priorities within these focus areas. Geographic focus areas define where the program directs resources to conserve habitat for federal trust species. Project work plans are developed strategically, in coordination with partners, and with substantial involvement from Service field staff. Projects must advance the Department of the Interior's mission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's mission, and PFW's mission, promote biological diversity, and based upon sound scientific biological principles. Program strategic plans inform the types of projects funded under this opportunity. Applicants seeking funding under this program should contact the appropriate PFW Regional Program office prior to submitting an application for funding. ***Applicants seeking technical or financial assistance from the PFW Program are requested to consult with the Regional PFW Program office BEFORE developing or submitting an application (see Section VIII. Agency Contacts).***Legal authorities: Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act of 2006, S.260 Public Law 109-294; Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, 16 U.S.C. 742a-c, 747e-742j; and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958, 16 U.S.C. 661 667(e).

The National Fish Passage Program (NFPP) is a voluntary program that provides direct technical assistance and financial assistance in the form of cooperative agreements to partners. The program work in partnership to provide fish (and other aquatic organisms) passage and restore aquatic connectivity for the benefit of federal trust resources. Activities which restore fish passage supports the modernization of country's infrastructure such as road culverts, bridges and water diversions. Fish friendly infrastructure provides a means for fish to be self resilient and maintain or increase population's providing for quality of fishing for many species. The NFPP is delivered through more than 65 Fisheries and Aquatic Conservation (FAC) Field Offices across all States and territories. FAC staff coordinates with project partners, stakeholders and other Service programs to identify and collaboratively implement projects within Regional priority areas. Project work plans are developed strategically, in coordination with partners, and with substantial involvement from FAC staff. Projects must advance our mission, promote biological diversity, and be based upon sound scientific biological principles. FAC and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) strategic plans inform the types of projects funded under this opportunity. Applicants seeking funding under this program should review the program strategic plan and also contact the regional NFPP Coordinator that corresponds to the location of the project for additional regional priorities prior to submitting an application for funding.

The Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance Program provides technical and financial assistance to other federal agencies, states, local governments, Native American tribes, non governmental organizations, citizen groups, and landowners for the conservation and management of fish and wildlife resources. This includes minimizing the establishment, spread, and impact of aquatic invasive species. Specifically, aquatic habitat conservation projects under this program must protect, restore, and enhance fish and aquatic habitats, as outlined in the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (Action Plan). Likewise, projects under this program directly or indirectly, support and promote public access to recreational fishing opportunities and the sustainable use of other natural resources. Funded projects may be carried out by Fish Habitat Partnerships (FHPs) recognized by the National Fish Habitat Board (Board) or the partners of Board recognized FHPs. More information about the FHPs and their partners can be found online at www.fishhabitat.org.

The Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance Program provides technical and financial assistance to other federal agencies, states, local governments, Native American tribes, non-governmental organizations, citizen groups, and landowners for the conservation and management of fish and wildlife resources. This includes minimizing the establishment, spread, and impact of aquatic invasive species. Specifically, aquatic habitat conservation projects under this program must protect, restore, and enhance fish and aquatic habitats, as outlined in the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (Action Plan). Likewise, projects under this program, directly or indirectly, support and promote public access to recreational fishing opportunities and the sustainable use of other natural resources. Funded projects may be carried out by Fish Habitat Partnerships (FHPs) recognized by the National Fish Habitat Board (Board) or the partners of Board recognized FHPs. More information about the FHPs and their partners can be found online at www.fishhabitat.org.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative targets the most significant environmental problems in the Great Lakes ecosystem by funding and implementing federal projects that address these problems. One goal is to improve habitat and wildlife protection and restoration. Using funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program anticipates funding wetland and associated upland habitat restoration and enhancement projects for conservation of native Great Lakes fish and wildlife populations, particularly migratory birds. Restoration projects will be completed on privately owned (nonfederal/nonstate) lands. Emphasis will be placed on, but not limited to, completing projects within the watersheds of Great Lakes Areas of Concern. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program is a voluntary, incentive-based program that provides direct technical assistance and financial assistance in the form of cooperative agreements to private landowners to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat for the benefit of federal trust resources. In the Great Lakes, PFW biologists from eight states coordinate with project partners, stakeholders, and other Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) programs to identify geographic focus areas and develop habitat conservation priorities within these focus areas. 

SFR provides Federal grant funding to the 50 States, Commonwealths, and territories of the United States of America for land acquisition, boating access development, research projects, operations and maintenance of public fishing areas, hatchery and lake construction and maintenance, sport fish population management, fishing habitat improvements, coordination projects, and aquatic resource education. These activities restore or manage sport fish populations and provide public access to these resources. Ineligible activities include law enforcement of fish and game regulations and public relation activities to promote the fish and wildlife agency.

SFR provides Federal grant funding to the 50 States, Commonwealths, and territories of the United States of America for land acquisition, boating access development, research projects, operations and maintenance of public fishing areas, hatchery and lake construction and maintenance, sport fish population management, fishing habitat improvements, coordination projects, and aquatic resource education. These activities restore or manage sport fish populations and provide public access to these resources. Ineligible activities include law enforcement of fish and game regulations and public relation activities to promote the fish and wildlife agency.

The Sport Fish Restoration Act and the Wildlife Restoration Act, as amended by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-408) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to make up to $6,000,000 ($3,000,000 each from the Sport Fish Restoration and Wildlife Restoration Program trust funds) available annually under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program for the purpose of funding multistate conservation project grants. The program is a discretionary grant program which awards grants based on a nationally competitive process that is administered jointly between the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) requests interested entities to submit research, restoration, and Regional Project proposals for the restoration of the Great Lakes Basin fish and wildlife resources, as authorized under the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (16 USC 941c). The purpose of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (GLFWRA) is to provide assistance to States, Indian Tribes, and other interested entities to encourage cooperative conservation, restoration and management of the fish and wildlife resources and their habitats in the Great Lakes Basin. Supported in part by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, we expect approximately $1.2 million to support projects this fiscal year. Available funding and project awards are subject to final Congressional appropriations for Fiscal Year 2018. Up to 33 and one-third percent of the total Congressional appropriation to the GLFWRA is eligible to fund Regional Projects. Successful restoration and research projects have ranged from $2,300 to $2,000,000 with the average project at $124,975.

Leading factors in native fish species decline include habitat alteration, lack of adequate in-stream flows, and invasive and/or non-native species. Bring Back the Natives awards grants to projects that conserve aquatic ecosystems, increase in-stream flows and build partnerships that benefit native fish species throughout the United States. The program also provides grants to implement the goals of theNational Fish Habitat Action Plan​. Bring Back the Natives also supports projects that advance innovation in fisheries management, including developing decision support tools, landscape-scale assessments to determine where to implement restoration to maximize native fish recovery, piloting innovative restoration techniques, identifying key flow restoration thresholds that enhance fish habitat and water quality in flow-limited systems, and innovative public outreach methods like crowd-sourcing data or information needed for native fish conservation.

This announcement serves as a Request for Proposals for the Webless Migratory Game Bird Program (WMGBP) for Fiscal Year 2019 (FY2019). The primary purpose of the WMGBP is to support activities that will improve management of the 16 species of webless migratory game birds (WMGBs) in North America. The Migratory Shore and Upland Game Bird Support Task Force, organized through the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, developed a set of priority information needs by convening a series of workshops. The workshops included broad representation (i.e., federal and state agencies, conservation organizations, and university researchers) familiar with the research and management needs for WMGBs. Priorities identified at the workshops must be used to guide proposal development and will be used by the review committee to select projects that address these priority information needs. Priorities are available below and in full at or by contacting the program manager listed in Section IV. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will oversee the WMGBP including administration of grants, purchase orders, and contracts for projects. The USFWS is authorized to support the WMGBP through the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended (16 U.S.C. 742a¿754); Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 (16 U.S.C. 661¿667e); Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (16 U.S.C, 2901- 2911); Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 709a).

This notice is an announcement for issuing a single source financial assistance award to Massachusetts Audubon Society, Cummaquid, MA. The intent of the award is to develop Best Management Practices for predation management of focal breeding shorebirds in North America. Improved predation management has been identified as a top priority by the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Initiative, an effort developed and coordinated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with over 50 partners. The AFSI implementation plan for predation focuses management efforts on four coastal temperate breeding shorebirds American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus, Wilsonâ¿¿s Plover Charadrius wilsonia, Snowy Plover Charadrius nivosus, and the federally threatened Piping Plover Charadrius melodus. This project will improve and expand predator management efforts using the following strategies identified in AFSI 1 develop and promote BMPs 2 implement predator management efforts at representative demonstration sites and 3 assist with outreach and training activities through coordination with affiliated projects. Implementation of these strategies will improve range wide coordination and efficacy of predation management efforts along the U.S. Atlantic coast. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Region, intends to make a sole source award of an cooperative agreement to Mass Audubon. Funding for this project is provided under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 as amended, 16 U.S.C. 742a 754, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 2901 2911. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is mandated to protect migratory bird species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act 1918 with additional protections for species listed as Endangered or Threatened under the Endangered Species Act 1973.

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program is a voluntary, incentive-based program that provides direct technical assistance and financial assistance in the form of cooperative agreements to private landowners to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat for the benefit of federal trust resources. The PFW Program is delivered through field staff active in all eight Great Lakes States with the goal of benefiting the Great Lakes ecosystem by improving habitat for wildlife that reside there and improving water quality. Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program staff coordinate with project partners, stakeholders and other Service programs to identify geographic focus areas and develop habitat conservation priorities within these focus areas. Geographic focus areas define where the program directs resources to conserve habitat for federal trust species. Project work plans are developed strategically, in coordination with partners, and with substantial involvement from Service field staff. Service staff coordinate the development of the plans for the restoration projects and implement the project with assistance from landowners and other partners. The program has been in existence since 1987 and has over 32 years of successful delivery. Project selection will seek to align or support the Secretary's priorities. The program also advances the Department of the Interior's mission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's mission, and PFW's mission, promotes biological diversity, and is based upon sound scientific biological principles. Program strategic plans inform the types of projects funded under this opportunity.

This is an announcement for issuing a single source financial assistance award to the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game ¿ Division of Ecological Restoration (MADER). This announcement is for notification purposes only. The intent of the award to be implemented in Falmouth, Massachusetts is to remove two small dams, restore a former commercial cranberry bog to natural wetland and riverine habitats, and replace an undersized and failing stream crossing (culverts) on a heavily traveled road with a larger, safer structure. The proposed project complements the first dam removal on the Coonamessett River that was completed in 2017, and includes the removal of the second dam from the ocean, replacement of the failing John Parker Road/Coonamessett River crossing, and restoration of floodplain wetlands. The existing road crossing consists of three two-foot diameter culverts, two of which have collapsed and no longer function. When complete, the entire project will provide improved public safety and enhanced infrastructure resiliency, while concurrently providing flood protection for the road, improved water quality, and restored fish passage. The dam removal and the replaced stream crossing will provide full access for migratory (alewife, blueback herring, American eel) and resident fish to 2.2 miles of free-flowing river, provide fish access to 158 acres of pond habitat for spawning under a range of flow conditions, restore 4,600 feet of stream channel, and restore 56 acres of wetlands.

The Sport Fish Restoration Act and the Wildlife Restoration Act, as amended by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-408) authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make up to $6,000,000 available annually under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) for the purpose of funding multistate conservation project grants. The primary goal of the MSCGP is to provide grant funds to address regional or national priority needs (National Conservation Needs or NCNs) of the State fish and wildlife agencies (States) and their partners that are beyond the scope and capabilities of a single State. Projects awarded funding are published annually in the Federal Register.

The Black Duck Joint Venture (BDJV) is a partnership-based program under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) that promotes the conservation of black ducks by providing scientific information to support effective conservation and management. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS, or Service), a partner in the BDJV, administers financial assistance awards (grants and cooperative agreements), purchase orders, and contracts on a competitive basis for projects and studies that advance both our and the general scientific community¿s understanding of black duck ecology and is seeking proposals from interested parties. The BDJV will a accept proposals addressing any aspect of black duck ecology and management, but proposals that address priority research needs (see full announcement) will have a greater probability of funding. The USFWS is authorized to support Migratory Bird Joint Ventures through the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended (16 U.S.C. 742a¿754); Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 (16 U.S.C. 661¿667e); Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (16 U.S.C, 2901-2911); Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 709a); and Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531¿43).

This notice is an announcement for issuing a single source financial assistance award. Legislative authority is based on U. S. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958, 16 U.S.C. 661 666; Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 742a; Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 16 US.C. 2901 2911; and or specific Congressional action, generally through the annual Appropriations Act, i.e., The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, that cites new or relevant environmental and or conservation statutes and activities for a defined purpose consistent with the mission, expertise, and goals of the Agency.

The North American Native Fishes Association (NANFA) sponsors a cash awards program to support research relating to the conservation of North America's indigenous fish fauna. NANFA wishes to support research that contributes to the sustainable existence of North American native fishes, especially those that are imperiled.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative targets the most significant environmental problems in the Great Lakes ecosystem by funding and implementing federal projects that address these problems. One goal is to improve habitat and wildlife protection and restoration. Using appropriations from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program anticipates funding wetland and associated upland habitat restoration and enhancement projects for conservation of native Great Lakes fish and wildlife populations, particularly migratory birds. Restoration projects will be completed on privately owned (non-federal/non-state) lands. Emphasis will be placed on, but not limited to, completing projects within the watersheds of Great Lakes Areas of Concern. The PFW Program is not a traditional grants program; it is a direct federal assistance program. The PFW Program does not solicit projects through a request for proposals. Instead, projects are developed in collaboration and with substantial involvement from PFW field biologists. PFW biologists from eight Great Lakes states work directly with landowners to plan and implement projects based on priorities and geographic focus areas identified in a regional strategic plan. Substantial involvement on the part of the Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the activities to be funded. In particular, the Service will be responsible for the following: PFW biologists provide direct technical assistance to landowners to identify, design and implement voluntary habitat improvement projects, such as wetland restoration, or grassland establishment, on private lands. For more information, contact the local PFW Program office. For office contact information please visit: http://www.fws.gov/partners/contactUs.html.