Coral Reef Conservation Fund
Anchors Away!
Introduction
Developed as part of the White Water to Blue Water Initiative,
the Anchors Away! program is designed to help build
partnerships to support the use of mooring buoys to conserve coral reef
ecosystems. Administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
(NFWF), through the Coral Reef Conservation Fund, Anchors Away! is
seeking partnerships to install and maintain mooring buoys to protect
sensitive coral reef resources from anchor damage and to identify marine
protected areas in the Gulf of Mexico and the Wider Caribbean
Region. In addition to installation and maintenance, the
Anchors Away! program will look for partnerships to include an
education component aimed at government agencies, resource managers,
coral reef diving, local coral reef stakeholders, and other activities
engaged in anchoring. See the NFWF Coral Reef Conservation Fund Request
for Proposal for the application for Anchors Away! funding.
Background
Coral reefs and their associated habitats are among the most
biologically diverse and complex ecosystems in the world. This
incredible diversity supports economies through activities such as
tourism, fishing, and pharmaceutical production. Tourism is a critically
important economic activity in the Gulf of Mexico and Wider Caribbean
Region, contributing 43% of combined gross domestic product and
one-third of export revenues. Reef-based tourism attracts millions of
divers and snorkelers each year and it is estimated for 2005 that scuba
diving and snorkeling tourism could generate approximately US$1.2
billion in income. This significant revenue stream could be jeopardized
by degraded coral reefs.
Although the threats to reefs are many, one of the threats from
vessels that can be managed easily is damage caused by the anchors.
Although the damage caused by each anchoring event - when viewed in
isolation - may be considered minor, the effect of boat anchors dropped
many times at the same site can produce a significant and cumulative
impact on coral reefs. Mooring buoys lessen the harmful effects of
anchors on delicate underwater ecosystems, and buoys encourage a
reliable and safe system for dive operators to showcase their
country’s magnificent reefs. Also, mooring buoys can assist
fishermen and other users of the reef by defining the boundaries of
protected reef areas. The benefits to the environment have been
recognized as far outweighing the effort involved in the planning,
installing, and maintaining the mooring buoys. Over the years, mooring
buoy programs have gathered momentum and are now widely accepted as an
effective solution to one aspect of habitat degradation.
Priority Projects
Priority projects under the Anchors Away! program will
include those that:
- Demonstrate the importance of protecting sensitive areas from anchor
damage, either because of its high use or pristine nature;
- Provide for the expertise necessary to install mooring buoys and
carry out a robust maintenance program;
- Develop an education component aimed at government agencies,
resource managers, coral reef diving, local coral reef stakeholders, and
other activities engaged in anchoring;
- Build innovative partnerships between and among countries,
governmental and non-governmental entities, and the public-private
sectors, and involve multiple stakeholders so as to garner local support
for the program; and
- Identify key community stakeholders that support the program.
For more information on mooring buoy programs and resources, please
consult the Coral Reef Alliance document, Mooring Buoy Installation
and Maintenance Handbook (2003), or the PADI Project AWARE
document, Mooring Buoy Planning Guide (1996).
Awards and Matching Funds
Anchors Away! seeks to build partnerships to implement
the use of mooring buoys by providing small matching grants (less than
US$50,000). (See the Coral
Reef Conservation Fund website for the latest information on the
Request for Proposal, on-line application and proposal
evaluation criteria.) Proposals should describe projects or progress,
with specific deliverables, that can be achieved in a 12 month time
period but may be part of a long-term effort. All projects should
include matching funding from project partners at a minimum ratio of 1:1
in non-U.S. federal dollars - although leverage ratios of 2:1 or higher
are preferred. The grantee match may include in-kind (non-cash)
contributions, such as volunteer hours.
Eligible Applicants
Applications will be accepted from U.S. or international
non-profit organizations, academic institutions and government agencies
(except U.S. federal agencies). U.S. federal agencies are encouraged to
work collaboratively with non-federal partners. Foreign institutions and
foreign nongovernmental agencies in the Gulf of Mexico and Wider
Caribbean Region are also encouraged to apply.
For further information on Anchors Away!, please
contact:
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Scot Frew,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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