Developing proposals for environmental observations and long term studies in the Gulf of Mexico is one of the areas the N.O.A.A. RESTORE Act is focusing on in this 1st grant competition. Here, N.O.A.A. Mussell Watch scientists use a Van Veen grab, a lightweight sampler designed to take large samples in soft bottoms, to collect sediments for analysis. (Credit: NOAA)
N.O.A.A. has issued a call for proposals under the 1st federal backing opportunity issued by the N.O.A.A. RESTORE Act Science Plan, which supports research in the Gulf of Mexico on long-term sustainability of the ecosystem and its fisheries. The competition looks for proposals for timely and high-quality scientific results that may be used to inform science-based and system-wide strategies supporting the sustainability of the Gulf of Mexico, including its fisheries.
N.O.A.A. invites the research and management community to apply for funding, up to $2.5 million in total, for one- to two-year plans to conduct the following types of work:
-
Comprehensive assessment of current ecosystem computer modeling;
-
Comparison and analysis of indicators for the health of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem including people and fisheries; and
-
Assessment of monitoring and observing capabilities.
These proposals should address at least one of 3 areas:
- Ecosystem and living resources management, including fisheries;
- Climate change and extreme weather impacts on sustainability of restoration; and
- Integration of social, behavioral and economic science into restoration and management.
"This initial backing provides an opportunity for researchers to develop innovative strategies and tools that will promote resiliency and sustainability of the Gulf of Mexico, and help drive how this Plan and initiatives of our partners move forward," said Becky Allee, Ph.D., acting director of the N.O.A.A. RESTORE Act Science Program. "We are eager to make the funds accessible to the research community and put their results to use as soon as possible."
"The scientific information, syntheses, and strategies resulting from this backing opportunity will help the Plan determine how to develop information and tools that will be clearly usable by resource managers to make more informed decisions on management and restoration of the Gulf of Mexico," she added.
This federal backing opportunity is in response to the RESTORE Act, also known as the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act, that authorized N.O.A.A. to establish and administer a "Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and Technology Program." Details of the backing opportunity were published today on the N.O.A.A. RESTORE Act Science Plan website. The deadline for submissions of letters of intent is January 30, 2015 and the deadline for final proposals is March 17, 2015
N.O.A.A. is currently in the process of finalizing the overall N.O.A.A. RESTORE Act Science Plan science project which outlines ten long-term research priorities to guide how the Plan will invest its funds and explains how these priorities were determined. The Plan anticipates releasing a final version of the science project early next year.
The N.O.A.A. Plan is funded by 2½ percent of the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund, established by the RESTORE Act, which comprises 80 percent of Clean Water Act civil penalties recovered from parties responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. On February 19, 2013, a federal judge approved a $1 billion civil settlement with Transocean, as a responsible party for the oil spill. This settlement provides the N.O.A.A. Restore Act Science Plan with $20 million plus 25 percent of any interest accrued from the portion of the settlement deposited into the Trust Fund.
Additional backing may become accessible from settlements with or judgments against other parties deemed responsible by the courts for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
The mission of the N.O.A.A. RESTORE Act Science Plan is to increase understanding of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem, including its fisheries, and to support its restoration and sustainability through research, observation, monitoring, and technology development.
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 Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and our other social media channels.
