February 24, 2024 — Read the full release at NOAA Fisheries:
As we proceed into 2024, we want to make sure you’re caught up on our efforts toward mitigating climate change. In 2023, we received historic funding under the Inflation Reduction Act, which has allowed us to prioritize and tackle several critical areas impacted by climate change. A major priority for NOAA Fisheries is accelerating the pace of our response to rapidly changing oceans. The infusion of these funds allows us to focus on several critical areas.
North Atlantic Right Whales ($82 Million)
This funding, coupled with supplemental funds appropriated in FY23, provides us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address the North Atlantic right whale crisis with new technologies and new approaches. Human impacts, including climate change, continue to threaten the survival of this species.
Learn more about the North Atlantic right whale funding
Recently announced:
Red Snapper ($20 Million)
We will improve state and federal recreational fisheries surveys for red snapper and other reef fish in the Southeast. Our plans for red snapper are focused on improving recreational catch and discard estimates from federal and state surveys. Changing oceans will require enhancing data collection and monitoring efforts to better track the distribution and abundance of important species like red snapper.
Learn more about red snapper investments
Habitat Restoration and Fish Passage ($484 Million)
We continue our work to support fisheries and coastal communities across the country impacted by climate change through large-scale competitive funding opportunities and expert technical assistance.
Tribal Fish Hatcheries ($300 Million)
Tribal initiatives include funding to support hatcheries across the West Coast. Funding will address deferred maintenance and repairs to hatcheries that produce Pacific salmon and steelhead in partnership with federally recognized tribes.
Learn more about the Columbia River Basin Hatcheries maintenance under the Mitchell Act
Regional Fisheries Management Councils ($20 Million)
Support to the councils will assist regulatory responses to current climate challenges. We need to implement more timely dynamic fishery management measures and increase fishing community resiliency to fishery changes caused by anticipated climate impacts.
Learn more about working with regional fisheries management councils to respond to climate change
Pacific Salmon ($42 Million)
We are enhancing our efforts to conserve, restore, and protect Pacific salmon in the face of climate change. Part of the funding for Pacific salmon will go to the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (announced in 2023). Part will go to science and research that supports transformative modeling to identify and prioritize high-impact restoration.
Learn more about the Pacific salmon science investment we just announced
Expect More in 2024
Data Acquisition and Management ($145 Million)
We will invest in advanced technologies, modern data systems, and infrastructure that expand and modernize stock assessments to account for climate change. This will increase the number and types of observations we can make, which will move us toward the greater sampling required to manage the nation’s large marine ecosystems.
Recently Announced:
Climate, Ecosystems, and Fisheries Initiative ($40 Million)
A cross-NOAA effort that will develop predictive capabilities of our oceans and associated ecosystems in support of actionable climate-informed advice to decision-makers.
Inflation Reduction Act Headlines Recap
April 2023
June 2023
July 2023
August 2023
- $240 Million Opportunity for Transformational Habitat Restoration Opens
- $106 Million for Pacific Salmon Restoration
September 2023
- $45 Million Funding Opportunity for Tribes and Underserved Communities Opens
- $82 Million in North Atlantic Right Whale Inflation Reduction Act investments
October 2023
- $20 Million in Red Snapper Inflation Reduction Act Investments
- $20 Million to the Regional Fishery Management Councils
- $60 Million for Mitchell Act Hatcheries
December 2023
January 2024
February 2024