FEDERAL AGENCY:

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

AUTHORIZATION:

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

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. Place Cursor Here for Definition

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.

Pre-application Coordination:   This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. States are not directly included in this program, though each coastal State has an official representative on the appropriate Council(s).

Application Procedure:   Submission of application on Standard Form 424 to the appropriate National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Regional Administrator as listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog. This program is subject to the provisions of 50 CFR 601 and 605 and OMB Circular Nos. A-110 and A-122.

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:   Project applications should be submitted 120 days in advance of desired effective date.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 30 to 60 days.

Appeals:   Not applicable.

Renewals:   Grants to the Councils are approved on an annual basis and are contingent upon the availability of funding each fiscal year based on annual appropriations. (Congressional appropriation by program project and activity).

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Awards can be approved for one year due to annual Congressional appropriation schedule. Funding can be received through the financial assistance disbursement system, or advance, or reimbursement by Treasury check.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Reporting requirements are outlined in 50 CFR Part 605, Guidelines for Council Operation/Administration.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 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 OMB Circular No. A-110 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.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   13-1450-0-1-306.

Obligations:   (Grants and Cooperative Agreements) FY 01 $13,132,900; FY 02 est $14,150,000; and FY 03 est $16,032,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
$890,500 to $2,034,500. Average: $1,637,500.

In 2001, one new Fishery Management Plan for the New England/Mid-Atlantic Tilefish Fishery and eight new FMP amendments were implemented.

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.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Councils should make initial contact relative to this program at the regional offices of the National Marine Fisheries Service as listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog.

Headquarters Office:   John H. Dunnigan, 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: jack.dunnigan@noaa.gov.

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

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

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