Applications for conservation, education and research small grants due Nov. 16, 2018

Contact:

Antoinette Clemetson, Marine Fisheries Specialist, E: aoc5@cornell.edu, P: (631) 632-8730
 
New York, NY, October 23, 2018 –New York Sea Grant and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today the availability of $100,000 for small grants for projects that will result in fulfillment of the mission of the Marine and Coastal District of New York Conservation, Education and Research Board. Applications for these small grants are due by 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 16, 2018.

New York Sea Grant and DEC are soliciting proposals that promote marine and coastal resources, increase participation in marine sport fishing, increase public awareness and appreciation of marine and coastal resources, encourage conservation of marine fisheries resources, or promote research to increase knowledge about the state's marine and coastal resources. Eligible projects may include activities that involve youth marine fishing camps or clubs, beach and bay clean-ups, and other coastal restoration activities to improve shoreline access, citizen science, signage, programs to increase public awareness about marine and coastal sport fishing and heritage, piloting technology or methods to support conservation, and developing tools to improve public access to marine and coastal resources and related services.

Projects that introduce limits on user access, promote a specific private entity, are focused on freshwater ponds, lakes, and rivers, or are not directly related to marine and coastal resource usage are not eligible for funding.

New York Sea Grant is hosting a webinar for interested applicants on Nov. 2, from 2 to 3 p.m. For more information about the webinar and to register, visit the New York Sea Grant website.

Approximately $100,000 is available for these awards. A minimum of five projects will be awarded. These grants are administered as a Cost Reimbursable Award (CRA), and project budgets must not exceed $15,000. Projects selected for funding must be completed within 12 months. Funding for this small grants program is generated through the striped bass license plate. For additional information on the NYS Striped Bass License Plate impact, please visit the Facebook Page managed by the DEC.

Private entities and individuals are not eligible to apply for this funding. Proposals will be accepted from not-for-profit entities located in New York, whose purpose is to "promote sport fishing, increase participation in recreational angling, increase public awareness and appreciation of aquatic natural resources, encourage conservation of fisheries resources, or promote research relating to the marine and coastal district of New York" (NYS ECL 13-0501). Not-for-profit entities include: non-government Organizations; K 9-12 educational institutions; museums or nature centers and other outdoor educational facilities; trade associations, community and civic groups, marine-related fishing clubs; and family and youth organizations such as scouts, guides, and family centers.

DEC was authorized through NYS Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) to establish this small grants program.

More Info: New York Sea Grant

New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York (SUNY), is one of 33 university-based programs under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program.

Since 1971, NYSG has represented a statewide network of integrated research, education and extension services promoting coastal community economic vitality, environmental sustainability and citizen awareness and understanding about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources.

Through NYSG’s efforts, the combined talents of university scientists and extension specialists help develop and transfer science-based information to many coastal user groups—businesses and industries, federal, state and local government decision-makers and agency managers, educators, the media and the interested public.

The program maintains Great Lakes offices at Cornell University, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Oswego and the Wayne County Cooperative Extension office in Newark. In the State's marine waters, NYSG has offices at Stony Brook University in Long Island, Brooklyn College and Cornell Cooperative Extension in NYC and Kingston in the Hudson Valley.

For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube links. NYSG offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/nycoastlines for its flagship publication, NY Coastlines/Currents, which is published quarterly. Our program also produces an occasional e-newsletter,"NOAA Sea Grant's Social Media Review," via its blog, www.nyseagrant.org/blog.