The Fishery Management Councils Coral Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements (FMCCRCCA) provides funding to the Regional Fishery Management Councils for projects to conserve and manage coral reef fisheries, as authorized under the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 200 0. Projects funded through the

credit: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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FMCCRCCA are for activities that 1) provide better scientific information on the status of coral reef fisheries resources, critical habitats of importance to coral reef fishes, and the impacts of fishing on these species and habitats; 2) identify new management approaches that protect coral reef biodiversity and ecosystem function through regulation of fishing and other extractive uses; and 3) incorporate conservation and sustainable management measures into existing or new Federal fishery management plans for coral reef species.

Proposals selected for funding through this solicitation will be implemented through a cooperative agreement.

The role of NOAA in the FMCCRCCA is to help identify potential projects that reduce impacts of fishing on coral reef ecosystems, strengthen the development and implementation of the projects, and assist in coordination of these efforts with Federal, state, territory or commonwealth management authorities and various coral reef user groups.

Approximately $1,250,000 is expected to be available for FMCCRCCA in FY 201 4. The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program anticipates that awards will range from $125,000-$500,00 0. Continued funding depends on future Congressional appropriations, NOAA/CRCP priorities, and successful recipient performance in the first year(s) of the award.