Fish Habitat Restoration Projects

Posted by on April 24, 2011

FishAmerica Foundation Offers Funding for Fish Habitat Restoration Projects
Deadline: May 16, 2011

The American Sportfishing Association’s FishAmerica Foundation, working in partnership with the NOAA Community-based Restoration Program, is inviting proposals for citizen-driven habitat restoration projects.

The partnership requests proposals for locally based efforts to accomplish meaningful on-the-ground restoration of marine, estuarine, and riparian habitats, including salt marshes, seagrass beds, mangrove forests, and freshwater habitats important to anadromous fish species (fish that migrate to and from the sea). Emphasis is on using a hands-on, grassroots approach to restore fisheries habitat across coastal America, the Great Lakes region, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Projects must result in the implementation of locally driven habitat restoration projects that emphasize stewardship and yield ecological and socioeconomic benefits. These projects must clearly demonstrate significant benefits to marine, estuarine, or anadromous fisheries resources, particularly sportfish, and should involve community participation through an educational or volunteer component tied to the restoration activities.

Projects focusing on the management or removal of aquatic invasive/nuisance species will not be considered.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, educational institutions, and local and state governments are eligible to apply for funding. Applicants without nonprofit status may utilize an eligible fiscal sponsor.

Awards will range between $10,000 and $75,000 per project. Eligible budget items include on-the-ground restoration materials, contractual labor, on-site salaries directly associated with project coordination or implementation (project manager, volunteer coordinator, etc.), and monitoring equipment. The program will not fund indirect costs.

Complete program guidelines and application procedures are available at the FishAmerica Web site.

http://www.fishamerica.org/grants/