Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (11.474)

 

Program

11.474 Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act

 

Federal Agency

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 

Authorization

Atlantic Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 5107, as amended.

 

Program Number

11.474

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

To provide assistance to eligible States and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission in order to support and encourage the development, implementation, and enforcement of effective interstate conservation and management of Atlantic Coastal resources. Activities conducted under projects will be used to collect information necessary for the preparation, implementation and enforcement of coastal fisheries management plans and State activities required within such plans. Primary users of the information would be the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the Atlantic Coast States, the National Marine Fisheries Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 

Types of Assistance

Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds are restricted to "coastal fishery resources" which means any fishery, any species of fish, or any stock of fish that moves among, or is broadly distributed across, waters under the jurisdiction of two or more Atlantic Coastal States or waters under the jurisdiction of one or more Atlantic Coastal States and the exclusive economic zone. Funds can be provided to the Commission and to the specified States for the preparation, implementation and enforcement of coastal fishery management plans and State activities required within such plans. Funds can also be used for program activities to support and enhance State cooperation in collection, management and analysis of fishery data; law enforcement; habitat conservation; fishery research including biological and socioeconomic research; and fishery management planning.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants for assistance are the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), the Atlantic Coast State governments which are Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, and the District of Columbia.

Beneficiary Eligibility

This program benefits State, and interstate marine resource conservation agencies, the marine fishing industries and the general public.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants are required to satisfy all DOC/NOAA standards and regulations, including routine and special terms and conditions for financial assistance programs application and conduct.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

The standard application forms are furnished by NOAA. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, " Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

Application Procedure: Submission of an application on Standard Form 424 as furnished by NOAA, including all required certifications, to the appropriate National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Regional Director. This program is subject to the provisions of 15 CFR 24 (Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments), and 15 CFR Part 14 (Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Nonprofit Organizations). NOAA reserves the right to withhold the awarding of a grant or cooperative agreement to any individual or organization delinquent on a debt to the Federal government until payment is made or satisfactory arrangements are made with the agency to whom the debt is owed.

Award Procedure

Proposals are initially evaluated by the pertinent NMFS Office/Region/Science Center, and are subject to review for technical merit, soundness of design, competency of the applicant to perform the proposed work, potential contribution of the project to national or regional goals, and appropriateness and reasonableness of proposed costs. Projects recommended for funding will be submitted to the NOAA Grants Management Division for review and approval.

Deadlines

Applications must be received by the Program Office by April 1 of each fiscal year.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

None.

Renewals

Grants and cooperative agreements are generally approved on an annual basis, but may be continued beyond the initial project period, subject to approved time frame and scope of work, satisfactory progress, and availability of funds. The Department of Commerce has the discretion to renew the award to increase funding, or extend the period of performance.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Projects are funded at up to 100 percent of the total project cost. A formula may be used to determine allocation of funds among eligible applicants. This formula may be based upon factors such as (but not limited to) the value of raw fish landed by domestic fishermen and the number of recreational fishing trips taken by anglers in each State, and the number of coastal fishery management plans in which the States participate. Recipient matching contributions are not required, but are encouraged. Direct allocations will be given to the District of Columbia, the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, Atlantic Coastal States, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, pursuant to NOAA'S discretion in accordance with the Statute.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Awards are normally for a 12 month period but in some instances, award periods may extend beyond 12 months, or may be completed in less than 12 months. Award funds must be spent in the indicated budget period and is expended in accordance with DOC/NOAA finance and reporting procedures. Funds are released in advance or by reimbursement, as agreed to in the Standard Terms and Conditions document required for each grant.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Reporting requirements are outlined in the Terms and Conditions of the Financial Assistance Award. Progress reports summarize work accomplished and explain situations where expected work has not been completed. Financial reports indicate use of funds during the reporting period.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), recipients that are States, Local Governments, Nonprofit Organizations (to include Hospitals), and Institutions of Higher Learning shall be subject to the audit requirements contained in the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507). Commercial organizations shall be subject to the audit requirements as stipulated in the award document.

Records

Generally, a recipient is required to retain records relating to a particular grant for three (3) years from the date of submission of the final financial report. In cases where litigation, claim or an audit is initiated prior to expiration of the three-year period, records must be retained until the action and resolution of any issues associated with it are complete or until the end of the three-year retention period; whichever is latest.

 

Program Accomplishments

Northeast Region: Activities include the development and monitoring of interstate fishery management plans; fishery research and stock assessment; habitat conservation; and law enforcement. In 2001, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) received $1,925,948 to manage, enhance, restore and maintain the shared fisheries of the Atlantic Coast, with the principal emphasis on the conservation and restoration of migratory marine and diadromous fishery resources and their habitat, as well as the maintenance, enhancement, and improvement of public uses and benefits from these resources. In 2000, ASMFC received $1,624,193 to conduct similar activities. Further activities of the same nature are expected to be carried out by ASMFC in 2002. Southeast Region: State activities include the planning and implementation of interstate fishery management plans; fishery research and stock assessment; and evaluation of the efficacy of regulations on Atlantic exploited species. In 2001, $290,569 was provided to four states in support of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

13-1450-0-1-306.

Obligations

(Grants and Cooperative Agreements) FY 02 $7,074,801; FY 03 est $7,100,000; and FY 04 est $7,100,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$13,980 to $1,925,948. Average: $150,000.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

For cost principles, see OMB Circular No. A-87 (State and local governments) and OMB Circular No. A-122 for other recipients. For grants management principles, see 15 CFR 24 (States and local governments) and 15 CFR 14 for other recipients.

 

Related Programs

11.405, Anadromous Fish Conservation Act Program; 11.407, Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act of 1986.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Northeast: Harold C. Mears, Director, State, Federal and Constituent Programs Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Regional Office, One Blackburn Dr., Gloucester MA 01930. Telephone: (978) 281-9243. Fax: (978) 281-9117. Email: Grants.Information@noaa.gov. Southeast: Cynthia Binkley, Federal Program Officer, State/Federal Liaison Office, 9721 Executive Center Drive, North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702. Telephone: (727) 570- 5324. Fax: (727) 570-5364. Email: cynthia.binkley@noaa.gov.

Headquarters Office

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Telephone (301) 713-2334. Fax: (301) 713-0596. Email: anne.lang@noaa.gov. Web site address: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/state_federal/state_federal.htm.

Web Site Address

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/recreational.htm

 

Examples of Funded Projects

Northeast Region: A Cooperative State-Federal Program for Conservation of Atlantic Coastal Fisheries; Marine Recreational Fishery Statistics Survey; Interstate Fisheries Management Support Program; Implementation of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program; and Biomonitoring and Assessment Project for American Shad and River Herring. Southeast Region: Florida Atlantic Coast Stock Assessments; Interstate Fisheries Management Planning and Implementation; Implementation of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program; Interstate Fisheries Management Program Implementation for North Carolina; and Fisheries Conservation Programs and Management Plans.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Proposals are solicited from eligible coastal States and other eligible applicants by notification from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast and Southeast Regional Offices. Proposals must undergo rigorous technical review and comply with all OMB, DOC, and NOAA grants policies and procedures.