Saving Seafood

Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program Telephone Town Hall Oct 22

October 20, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program Telephone Town Hall Meeting on October 22

Interested in applying for a Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant? 

To find out how, follow the directions below to join us this Thursday, October 22, at 4 pm (Eastern Standard Time). We are hosting this Webinar/Telephone Town Hall to provide an overview of the application process and to answer questions from anyone interested in applying for funding through this grant opportunity.The solicitation for this grant opportunity is open until November 2.  

To join this online meeting, you will need a computer and a phone. Follow these instructions:

1. Go to Webinar page

2. If requested, enter your name and email address 

3. Provide the event password: Meeting123 

4. Click “Join”

5. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen  

Note:  This webinar does not have audio so you will need to call in with the info below

Dial In: 866-647-1746

Participant Code: 6042534

Background:

On September 4, NOAA Fisheries announced approximately $10 million available to support fisheries projects through the competition. 

The goal of the Saltonstall-Kennedy grant program is to fund projects that address the needs of fishing communities, optimize economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries, and increase other opportunities to keep working waterfronts viable. The 2016 solicitation seeks applications that fall into seven priority areas:

  • Aquaculture
  • Fishery data collection
  • Techniques for reducing bycatch and other adverse impacts
  • Adapting to climate change and other long term ecosystem change
  • Promotion, development, and marketing
  • Socio-economic research
  • Science coming from within the U.S. territories

If you have a project in mind, join us on Thursday so we can help you navigate the application process.

Credit: NOAA

Massachusetts: Gov. Charlie Baker approves $30 million for SMAST expansion in New Bedford

October 15, 2015 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Gov. Charlie Baker approved $30 million in state funding Thursday for the long-planned SMAST expansion at the UMass Dartmouth campus in the South End, clearing the way for a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 23 and spurring excitement from politicians and UMass administrators.

“I’m ecstatic about this,” said state Sen. Mark Montigny, D-New Bedford. “This project is one that, in the past few weeks, I thought we were going to lose.”

Baker’s administration has been scrutinizing proposed bond projects across the state since he took office in January. The administration put a hold about two months ago, Montigny said, on SMAST expansion funding that had been ostensibly secured through a prior agreement with former Gov. Deval Patrick.

Montigny and New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell both said Thursday that they had been pushing hard for several weeks to secure the funding under the Baker administration.

“I’m thrilled that this project is at last going forward,” Mitchell said. “SMAST will continue to be a major counterpoint to federal government-sponsored fisheries research. And in that way, SMAST will continue to help level the playing field for our fishing fleet.

Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times