NFWF Announces $1.19 Million in Grants to Support Sustainable Fisheries in the U.S.

Washington D.C., (July 12, 2016) — The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced the sixth round of grant awards from its Fisheries Innovation Fund, a program launched in 2010 to foster innovations that support sustainable fisheries in the United States. The grants announced today will aid in the development of diverse, collaborative strategies to strengthen fishing communities, bolster economic development, and support the next generation of fishermen throughout the country.

The goal of the Fisheries Innovation Fund is to sustain fishermen and fishing communities while simultaneously rebuilding fish stocks. The 11 grants for 2016 total $1.19 million, and will be matched by over $1.3 million in additional support from the grantees, for a total conservation impact of more than $2.5 million. NFWF’s Fisheries Innovation Fund is supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Walton Family Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and this year welcomes a new funder, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

“The grants we announce today will contribute to the effective implementation of innovations that strengthen the welfare of fishermen and fish stocks alike,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “Now in its sixth year, the Fisheries Innovation Fund continues to promote innovative solutions that support sustainable fisheries and local communities across the country.”

Altogether, the grants will support conservation work in 15 states: Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia and Washington. Projects examples include an effort to develop the Alaska Young Fishermen’s Network and preserve vibrant Alaskan fishing communities, and another project to establish a local fish hub in Monterey, California to ensure local residents and retailors have access to fresh, locally caught seafood.

”We're pleased to support fishermen-led initiatives that support fisheries sustainability and resilience,” said Eileen Sobeck, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries at NOAA Fisheries. “Projects funded through this public-private partnership showcase the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in fisheries conservation and management and play a role in helping end overfishing, rebuild stocks, and foster economic well-being."

A complete list of the 2016 Fisheries Innovation Fund grants, by region, can be found here. This is the first of two announcements for the Fisheries Innovation Fund; separate awards under the Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program will be announced in late August.

About NFWF

Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 4,500 organizations and committed more than $3.5 billion to conservation projects. Learn more at www.nfwf.org.

About NOAA

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels at http://www.noaa.gov/socialmedia.

About the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation fosters path-breaking scientific discovery, environmental conservation, patient care improvements and preservation of the special character of the Bay Area. Visit www.moore.org or follow @MooreFound.

About the Walton Family Foundation

At the Walton Family Foundation, we believe that conservation solutions that make economic sense are the ones that stand the test of time. We work to achieve lasting change by creating new and unexpected partnerships among conservation, business and community interests to build durable solutions to important problems.

The Walton Family Foundation is investing in two of the most important conservation issues of our time: (1) restoring the health of the oceans through sustainable fisheries and (2) preserving functioning rivers and the quality and availability of fresh water they provide.

About the David and Lucile Packard Foundation

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is a private family foundation created in 1964 by David Packard (1912–1996), cofounder of the Hewlett-Packard Company, and Lucile Salter Packard (1914–1987). The Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations in the following program areas: Conservation and Science; Population and Reproductive Health; Children, Families, and Communities; and Local Grantmaking. The Foundation makes national and international grants and also has a special focus on the Northern California counties of San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey. Foundation grantmaking includes support for a wide variety of activities including direct services, research and policy development, and public information and education. Learn more at www.packard.org.