FY 16 Coastal Ecosystem Resiliency Grants Program

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The principal objective of the National Marine Fisheries Service's (NMFS) Coastal Ecosystem Resiliency Grants solicitation is to implement projects that use a proactive approach to improve or restore coastal habitat to: 1) strengthen the resilience of U.S. marine and coastal ecosystems and decrease the vulnerability of communities to extreme weather and 2) support sustainable fisheries and contribute to the recovery of protected resources. Applications submitted under this solicitation will be selected based on their ability to demonstrate how the proposed project will enhance the resiliency of U.S. marine and coastal ecosystems to the impacts of extreme weather and changing environmental conditions thereby increasing community resilience and improving habitat for species under NOAA jurisdiction. Proposed projects should benefit threatened and endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act (hereafter, Listed Species), including species identified by NMFS as “Species in the Spotlight” (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2015/05/05_14_15species_in_the_spotlight.html), species managed under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (hereafter, Managed Species), or benefit Listed or Managed Species through ecosystem improvements such as restoring habitat for forage fish. Proposed projects should also demonstrate collaboration among stakeholders, as evidenced by recommendations and strategies outlined in multi-stakeholder studies, coastal vulnerability assessments, or comprehensive planning efforts designed to address ecosystem resiliency.Successful applications will: 1) identify an issue limiting the resiliency of U.S. marine and coastal ecosystems to extreme weather events or changing environmental conditions at the proposed project site; 2) identify the proposed project’s outcome goal(s) and describe in detail the actions and on-the-ground restoration to be undertaken to enhance resiliency and reduce risk and; 3) describe the measurable impact on the ecosystem, the species (e.g. Listed or Managed Species) to benefit from the project, and surrounding coastal communities to benefit from the proposed coastal habitat restoration project.

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