NOAA04-R999-02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Aja Sae-Kung
9/1/04

NOAA News Releases 2004
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NOAA AWARDS MORE THAN $900,000 TO THE
ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration awarded a grant totaling $943,358 to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to fund 13 projects included in the West Coast Fisheries Development Program Nearshore Marine Research. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“This grant to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game supports research critical to fishery maintenance and development in Alaska,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “Funding such as this allows states to manage their fishery resources while actively supporting efforts that reinforce NOAA and the Bush Administration’s commitment to the environment.”

Each year, NOAA awards approximately $900 million in grants to members of the academic, scientific and business communities to assist the agency in fulfilling its mission to study the Earth’s natural systems to predict environmental change, manage ocean resources, protect life and property, and provide decision makers with reliable scientific information. NOAA goals and programs reflect a commitment to these basic responsibilities of science and service to the nation for the past 34 years.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. To learn more about NOAA, please visit http://www.noaa.gov.

The projects supported by the grant include:

  • Support for the Southeast Alaska region dive research activities and dive fishery technician position
  • Revision of current Southeast region Red king crab stock assessment survey methods
  • Support for dive research activities associated with Southeast Alaska sea cucumber fisheries, including funding for six scientific divers and three boat officers positions
  • Creation of a single-source Southeast Alaska geoduck clam reconnaissance database from achieved data
  • Two-day assessment and evaluation of Southeast Alaska geoduck clam biomass in commercial fishing areas
  • Development, evaluation and revision of Southeast Alaska sea cucumber stock assessment methods
  • Assessment of sidestripe and pink shrimp stocks in the northern Gulf of Alaska
  • Analysis of skate (Rajidae) fisheries data for south-central Alaska
  • Two-year surveys of Kachemak Bay green urchins and sea cucumbers to determine potential surplus production for harvest in commercial dive fisheries
  • Three-year small mesh trawl survey project conducted in the Westward region to assess the abundance of shrimp and forage fishes around the Kodiak archipelago and Alaska Peninsula
  • Funding for the employment of the Westward region research assistant position for three years
  • Assessment of previous research of the Westward region black rockfish to develop a harvest guideline for the Northeast section of the Kodiak Management District
  • Funding for the oversight, management and administration of the nearshore marine research program

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