Regional Fishery Management Councils (11.441)

Program

11.441 Regional Fishery Management Councils

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Commerce
Office: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Authorization

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act,, 16 U.S.C 1852.

Program Number

11.441

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

The objectives of the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils are to prepare, monitor and revise fishery management plans and data collection programs for domestic and foreign fishing within the 200-mile U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This is done with approval and implementation by the Secretary of Commerce who has stewardship responsibility for living marine resources in the EEZ under the MSFCMA.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds are used by the eight Regional Fishery Management Councils to prepare plans and amendments to recommend to the Secretary of Commerce, under the MSFCMA.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Eight Regional Fishery Management Councils (New England, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Pacific, North Pacific and Western Pacific) as established by the MSFCMA. These councils can best be described as "quasi-government" because they are sponsored by the Federal government, specifically funded by Congress but the members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce from the private sector; they are not Federal employees.

Beneficiary Eligibility

This program benefits commercial and recreational fishing enterprises in the EEZ. Foreign fishing enterprises may also benefit from this program if authorized to conduct fishing operations. U.S. consumers will benefit as a result of availability of seafood. Imports may be reduced and exports may be increased.

Credentials/Documentation

Generally a work plan for the funding year. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Proposals are submitted through Grants.Gov. Applicants will need to enter the Funding Opportunity Number and/or CFDA number to access the application package and instructions. Application package will then be submitted directly to the (Name of your Office - Example Coastal Services Center). Proposals are subject to the requirements of 15 CFR Parts 14 and 24, as applicable.

Award Procedure

Applications are initially evaluated by the respective National Marine Fisheries Service Regional Administrators and are forwarded to NMFS Headquarters for final approval. They are then forwarded for processing to the Grants Management Division, Office of Administration, NOAA.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 30 to 60 days. From 30 to 60 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Multi-year awards of up to five years may be approved. Funding for multi-year projects beyond the first year is contingent upon the availability of program funds in subsequent fiscal years, and the extent to which the recipient meets project objectives and reporting requirements.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Awards can be approved for one year due to annual Congressional appropriation schedule. Funds are released in advance or by reimbursement, as agreed to in the Standard Terms and Conditions document required for each grant. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: As agreed to in the Standard Terms and Conditions document for each grant.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable. Cash reports are not applicable. Reporting requirements are outlined in 50 CFR Part 605, Guidelines for Council Operation/Administration. Expenditure reports are not applicable. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Records will be retained in accordance with provisions of 15 CFR Part 14 for institutions of higher education and other nonprofit organizations and with 15 CFR Part 24 for State and local governments. 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

Fiscal Year 2008: Grants focus on NEPA; Ecosystem Management; Fisheries Management; Database and Information Processing; Marine Protected Areas & Sanctuaries; Strategic Planning & Outreach; Capacity Reduction; Research, Planning and Coordination; Marine Turtle Conservation; and Coral Reef. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

13-1450-0-1-306.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $22,928,589; FY 09 est $27,000,000; FY 10 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$890,400 to $2,451,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

50 CFR Chapter 6; the Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures, and 50 CFR Part 605 Operational Guidelines for Council Operations. Allowable cost will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular A-87 for State and local governments and Indian Tribes; OMB Circular A-122 for nonprofit and for- profit organizations; OMB Circular A-21 for institutions of higher education; and 48 CFR Part 31 for commercial organizations. Financial assistance management will be in accordance with 15 CFR Part 14 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, and other non-profit and commercial organizations, and with 15 CRF Part 24 for state and local governments.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Alaska: Alaska Regional Office, Barbara Fosburg, NMFS, P.O. Box 12668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668. Telephone: (907) 586-7273. Use the same numbers for FTS. Email: barbara.fosburg@noaa.gov. Northeast: Harold C. Mears, State, Federal and Constituent Programs Office; Northeast Region, 55 Great Republic Dr., Gloucester, MA 01930-2276. Telephone: (978) 281-9243. Fax: (978) 281- 9117. Northwest Regional Office, Kevin Ford or Stehpen Freese, 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, Seattle, WA 98115-
6349 Telephone: (206) 526-6115 or 6113). Email Kevin.Ford@noaa.gov or Stephen.Freese@noaa.gov. Pacific Islands Region: 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814-4700.
Telephone: (808) 973-2941. Email: scott.bloom@noaa.gov Southeast: Cynthia Binkley, Federal Program Officer, State/Federal Liaison Branch, 263 13 Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Telephone: (727) 824-5324.. Fax: (727) 824-5364 Email: Cynthia.Binkley@noaa.gov. Southwest: Patricia Culver, Federal Program
Officer, Southwest Region Office, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4200, Long Beach, CA 90802- 4213. Telephone: (310) 980-4239. Fax: (562) 980-4047.
Email: trisha.culver@noaa.gov.

Headquarters Office

None None, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Phone: None

Web Site Address

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/domes_fish/index.htm.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Cooperative Research; Administrative Cooperative Agreement; Ecosystem Management. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

This program is non- competitive. It is Congressionally mandated.