The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced this week that it is accepting proposals under the Research Set-Aside Program for research activities conducted in 2004 involving summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, Loligo squid, Illex squid, Atlantic mackerel, butterfish, bluefish, and tilefish fisheries. Applicants may submit proposals to the NMFS Northeast Regional Office on or before March 28, 2003.
The Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program integrates fishing industry activities with cooperating scientific partners to improve fishery management decisions. The Council, in consultation with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, allocates a set-aside quota (not to exceed three percent) from the annual quota allocation for the summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. The remaining species allocation is determined by the Council. An individual suballocation of the quota to conduct the approved research activity will be given to successful applicants selected by NMFS. Individual projects may also involve allocations from the set-asides for several of the species.
Projects funded under the RSA must enhance understanding of the fishery resource or contribute to the information for which management decisions are derived. The Council and NMFS will give priority to fund research proposals that meet the research priorities established for the 2004 fishing year in the following areas: bycatch and discard reduction; mesh and gear selectivity; fishing impacts on habitat; cooperative stock assessment surveys; and improved recreational fishery data.
Commercial or non-profit organizations; state, local, or tribal governments; academia; or individuals are encouraged to apply. Submit applications to Patricia A. Kurkul, NMFS Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930, Attention: Mid-Atlantic Research Proposals. To receive a copy of the standard forms for submission of a research proposal, visit the NMFS website at: http://www.ofa.noaa.gov/grants, under the title "Grant Application Forms and Budget Guidelines." For more information regarding the research program, refer to the enclosed brochure or contact the Council office at 302-674-2331.
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