June 2, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Today, NOAA Fisheries is announcing the award of $6.5 million in funding to states and tribes through its Species Recovery Grant Program. These grants promote the recovery of species listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

States and tribes play an essential role in conserving and recovering species. Threatened or endangered species under NOAA Fisheries’ jurisdiction may spend all or part of their lifecycle in state waters. Successfully conserving these species depends largely on working cooperatively with states and tribes. This year’s funding support our state and tribal partners in a range of activities, such as:

• Designing and testing new fishing gear to reduce or remove significant sources of mortality and injury.
• Assessing and monitoring species presence, status, and movement, and collecting genetic information to improve understanding of population distribution, foraging ecology and habitat use, population structure, and restoration efforts.
• Engaging the public in conservation of Endangered Species Act-listed species.

In the Greater Atlantic Region the funding will support one new award and the continuation of seven multi-year projects that were approved in prior grant cycles.

Read our web story to learn more or visit the complete descriptions of funded projects to states and Tribes.