[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 199 (Monday, October 15, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52389-52396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25902]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[Docket No. 001214350-1240-02, I.D. 082701G]
RIN 0648-ZB08
Financial Assistance for Research and Development Projects in the
Gulf of Mexico and Off the U.S. South Atlantic Coastal States; Marine
Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN)
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of solicitation for applications.
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SUMMARY: Subject to the availability of funds, NMFS (hereinafter
referred to as ``we'' or ``us'') announces the availability of Federal
assistance under the Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN) Grant
Program. This announcement provides guidelines, evaluation criteria and
selection procedures for the program.
Under the MARFIN program, we provide financial assistance for
research and development projects that optimize the use of fisheries in
the Gulf of Mexico and off the South Atlantic States of North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida involving the U.S. fishing
industry (recreational and commercial), including fishery biology,
resource assessment, socio-economic assessment, management and
conservation, selected harvesting methods, and fish handling and
processing.
DATES: We must receive your application by close of business (5 p.m.
eastern daylight time on December 14, 2001. Applications received after
that time will not be considered for funding.
ADDRESSES: You can obtain an application package from, and send your
completed applications(s) to: Ellie Francisco Roche, Chief, State/
Federal Liaison Office, Southeast Regional Office, NMFS, 9721 Executive
Center Drive, N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702. You may also obtain the
application package from the MARFIN Home Page at: http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov/grants/programs/marfin.
You must submit one signed original and nine signed copies of the
completed application (including supporting information). We will
accept neither facsimile applications, nor electronically forwarded
applications.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellie Francisco Roche, Chief, State/
Federal Liaison Office, (727) 570-5324.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Introduction
A. Background
MARFIN is a competitive Federal assistance program that funds
projects seeking to optimize research and development benefits from
U.S. marine fishery resources through cooperative efforts involving the
best research and management talents to accomplish priority activities.
Projects funded under MARFIN provide answers for fishery needs covered
by the NMFS Strategic Plan, available from the Southeast Regional
Office (see ADDRESSES), particularly those goals relating to:
rebuilding over-fished marine fisheries, maintaining currently
productive fisheries, and integrating conservation of protected species
and fisheries management. Areas of emphasis for MARFIN are formulated
from recommendations received from non-Federal scientific and technical
experts and from NMFS' research and operations officials.
B. Funding
We are soliciting applications for Federal assistance pursuant to
15 U.S.C. 713c-3(d). This document describes how you can apply for a
grant or cooperative agreement under the MARFIN Grant Program and how
we will determine which applications we will fund.
Approximately $2.0 million may be available in fiscal year (FY)
2002 for funding projects. This amount includes possible in-house
projects and $750,000 for 1-year projects for red snapper research.
(See II. Funding Priorities.) Publication of this notice obligate's
neither NMFS to award any specific grant or cooperative agreement nor
all or any parts of the available funds.
Project proposals accepted for funding for a project period over 1
year that include multiple project components and severable tasks to be
funded during each budget period do not compete for funding in
subsequent budget periods within the approved project period. However,
funding for subsequent project components is contingent upon the
availability of funds and satisfactory performance and is at the sole
discretion of the agency.
C. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
This program is described in the ``Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance'' under program number 11.433, Marine Fisheries Initiative
(MARFIN).
[[Page 52390]]
II. Funding Priorities
Your proposal must address one of the priorities listed below as
they pertain to federally managed species or species relevant to
Federal fisheries management. If you select more than one priority, you
should list first on your application the priority that most closely
reflects the objectives of your proposal.
Highest consideration is given to funding projects that have the
greatest probability of recovering, maintaining, improving, or
developing fisheries; improving the understanding of factors affecting
recruitment success; and/or generating increased values and
recreational opportunities for fisheries. Projects are evaluated as to
the likelihood of achieving these objectives, with consideration of the
magnitude of the eventual economic or social benefits that may be
realized. Priority is given to funding projects in the subject areas
listed in this section, but proposals in other areas are considered on
a funds-available basis. There is no preference between short-term and
long-term projects.
A. Bycatch
The bycatch of biological organisms (including interactions with
sea turtles and marine mammals) by various fishing gears can have wide-
reaching impacts from a fishery's management and an ecological
standpoint, with the following major concerns:
1. Shrimp trawl fisheries. Studies are needed to contribute to the
regional shrimp trawl bycatch program (including the southern U.S.
Atlantic rock shrimp fishery) being conducted by NMFS in cooperation
with state fisheries management agencies, commercial and recreational
fishing organizations and interests, environmental organizations,
universities, Councils, and Commissions. Specific guidance and research
requirements are contained in the Cooperative Bycatch Plan for the
Southeast, available from NMFS (see ADDRESSES). In particular, the
studies should address:
(a) Data collection and analyses to expand and update current
bycatch estimates, temporally and spatially emphasizing areas of
greatest impact by shrimping. Sampling effort should include estimates
of numbers, weight, and random samples of size (age) structure of
associated bycatch complex, with emphasis on those overfished species
under the jurisdiction of the Councils. Date collection should also
include mortality, age, and length information for red drum in both
inshore and offshore shrimp fisheries.
(b) Assessment of the status and condition of fish stocks
significantly impacted by shrimp trawler bycatch, with emphasis given
to overfished species under the jurisdiction of the Councils. Other
sources of fishing and nonfishing mortality should be considered and
quantified as well.
(c) Identification, development, and evaluation of gear, non-gear,
and tactical fishing options to reduce bycatch.
(d) Improved methods for communicating with and improving
technology and information transfer to the shrimp industry.
(e) Development and evaluation of statistical methods to estimate
the bycatch of priority management species in the Gulf and South
Atlantic shrimp trawl fisheries.
2. Pelagic longline fisheries. Several pelagic longline fisheries
exist in the Gulf and South Atlantic, targeting highly migratory
species, such as tunas, sharks, and swordfish. Priority areas include:
(a) Development and evaluation of gear and fishing tactics to
minimize bycatch of undersized and unwanted species, including sea
turtles, marine mammals, billfish, and overfished finfish species/
stocks.
(b) Assessment of the biological impact of longline bycatch on
related fisheries.
3. Reef fish fisheries. The reef fish complex is exploited by a
variety of fishing gear and tactics. The following research on bycatch
of reef fish species is needed:
(a) Development and evaluation of gear and fishing tactics to
minimize the bycatch of undersized and unwanted species, including sea
turtles and marine mammals.
(b) Characterization and assessment of the impact of bycatch of
undersized target species, including release mortality, during
recreational fishing and during commercial longline, bandit gear and
trap fishing.
(c) Determination of the release mortality by depth of red snapper
caught on commercial bandit rigs that are electrically or hydraulicly
powered.
4. Finfish trawl fisheries. Studies are needed on quantification
and qualification of the bycatch in finfish trawl fisheries, such as
the flounder and fly-net fisheries in the South Atlantic.
5. Gillnet fisheries. Studies are needed on quantification and
qualification of the bycatch in coastal and shelf gillnet fisheries for
sciaenids, scombrids, bluefish, monkfish, and dogfish sharks of the
South Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico (particularly interaction with sea
turtles and marine mammals). Development and evaluation of gear and
fishing tactics to minimize bycatch of undersized and non-target
species, including marine mammals and sea turtles, is also needed.
6. Economic considerations of bycatch reduction. (a) Develop and
test models, using actual or hypothesized data, that explicitly
consider the economic impacts to the directed fishery and gains to the
bycatch fishery. The models should include the effects of the
management systems for the directed and bycatch fisheries and should
attempt to describe criteria for the correct level of bycatch reduction
(e.g., marginal cost and value of reduction are equal).
(b) Develop economic incentives and other innovative alternatives
to gear and season/area restrictions as ways to reduce bycatch. The
proposal should attempt to contrast the relative costs, potential
gains, and level of bycatch reduction associated with traditional
methods and any innovative alternatives addressed by the proposal.
(c) Describe the costs and returns performance of South Atlantic
and Gulf of Mexico shrimp fisheries as necessary background for the
economics of bycatch reduction. (See Section V.C.1., regarding
collection of information.)
B. Reef Fish
Some species within the reef fish complex are exhibiting signs of
being overfished, either because of directed efforts or because of
being the bycatch of other fisheries. The ecology of reef fish makes
them vulnerable to overfishing, because they tend to concentrate over
specific types of habitat with patchy distribution. This behavior
pattern can make traditional fishery statistics misleading. Priority
research areas include:
1. Collection of basic biological data for species in commercially
and recreationally important fisheries. (a) Age and growth of reef
fish. (1) Description of age and growth patterns, especially for red,
vermilion, gray, and cubera snappers; gray triggerfish; gag; black
grouper; hogfish; red porgy; and other less dominant forms in the
management units for which data are lacking.
(2) Contributions to the development of annual age-length keys and
description of age structures for exploited populations for all species
in the complex addressed in the Reef Fish and Snapper/Grouper
Management Plans for the Gulf and South Atlantic, respectively,
prioritized by importance in the total catch.
[[Page 52391]]
(3) Design of sampling systems to provide a production-style aging
program for the reef fish fishery. Effective dockside sampling programs
are needed over a wide geographic range, especially for groupers, to
collect information on reproductive state, size, age, and sex.
(b) Reproduction studies of reef fish. (1) Maturity schedules,
fecundity, and sex ratios of commercially and recreationally important
reef fish, especially gray triggerfish, gag, and red porgy in the Gulf
and South Atlantic.
(2) Studies of all species to characterize the actual reproductive
contribution of females by age.
(3) Identification and characterization of spawning aggregations by
species, area, size group and season.
(4) Effects of fishing on changes of sex ratios for gag, red
grouper, and scamp, and disruption of aggregations.
(5) Investigations of the reproductive biology of gag, red grouper
and other grouper species.
(c) Recruitment of reef fish. (1) Source of recruitment in Gulf and
South Atlantic waters, especially for snappers, groupers, and
amberjacks.
(2) Annual estimation of the absolute or relative recruitment of
juvenile gag, gray snapper, and lane snapper to estuarine habitats off
the west coast of Florida and to similar estuarine nursery habitats
along the South Atlantic Bight; development of an index of juvenile gag
recruitment for the South Atlantic based on historical databases and/or
field studies.
(3) The contribution of live-bottom habitat and habitat areas of
particular concern (Oculina banks) off Fort Pierce, Florida and off
west central Florida to reef fish recruitment.
(d) Stock structure of reef fish. (1) Movement and migration
patterns of commercially and recreationally valuable reef fish species,
especially gag in the Gulf and South Atlantic and greater amberjack
between the South Atlantic and Gulf.
(2) Biochemical/immunological and morphological/meristic techniques
to allow field separation of lesser amberjack, almaco jack, and banded
rudderfish from greater amberjack to facilitate accurate reporting of
catch.
(3) Stock structure of greater amberjack in the Gulf and South
Atlantic.
(4) Fishery dependent and fishery independent data of wreakfish
from the eastern North Atlantic.
2. Population assessment of reef fish. (a) Effect of reproductive
mode and sex change (protogynous hermaphroditism) on population size
and characteristics, with reference to sizes of fish exploited in the
fisheries and the significance to proper management.
(b) Source and quantification of natural and human-induced
mortalities, including release mortality estimates for charter boats,
headboats, and private recreational vessels, especially for red snapper
and the grouper complex.
(c) Determination of the habitat and limiting factors for important
reef fish resources in the Gulf and South Atlantic.
(d) Description of habitat and fish populations in the deep reef
community and the prey distributions supporting the community.
(e) Development of statistically valid indices of abundance for
important reef fish species in the South Atlantic and Gulf, especially
red grouper, Goliath grouper, speckled hind, red porgy, Warsaw grouper
and Nassau grouper.
(f) Assessment of tag performance on reef fish species, primarily
snappers and groupers. Characteristics examined should include shedding
rate, effects on growth and survival, and ultimately, the effects of
these characteristics on estimations of vital population parameters.
(g) Stock assessments to establish the status of major recreational
and commercial species. Innovative methods are needed for stock
assessments of aggregate species, including the effect of fishing on
genetic structure and the incorporation of sex change for protogynous
hermaphrodites into stock assessment models.
(h) Assessment of Florida Bay recovery actions on reef fish
recruitment and survival.
3. Management of reef fish. (a) Research in direct support of
management, including catch-and-release mortalities, by gear and depth.
(b) Evaluation of the use of marine reserves as an alternative or
supplement to current fishery management practices and measures for
reef fish. Studies should focus on the Experimental Oculina Reef
Reserve, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, as well as on the
identification of prime sites for the establishment of reserves in the
U.S. south Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
(c) Characterization and evaluation of biological impacts (e.g.,
changes in age or size structure of reef fish populations in response
to management strategies).
(d) Evaluation of vessel log data for monitoring the fishery and
for providing biological and economic information for management; and
methods for matching log data to Trip Information Program samples for
indices of effort.
(e) For the U.S. Caribbean, collection of economic cost and returns
data sufficient to evaluate management proposals to limit the use of
fish and/or lobster traps. (See Section V.C.1., regarding collection of
information.)
(f) Determine the value and economic impact of recreational angling
in the headboat fishery of the U.S. Caribbean. This will require the
use of data to generate recreational demand equations for trips in
general and for various key species. Economic impact assessment will
require the collection of appropriate expenditure data and imputation
using standard impact assessment software. (See Section V.C.1.,
regarding collection of information.)
C. Red Snapper Research
The Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 required the Secretary of
Commerce to conduct a thorough and independent evaluation of the
scientific and management basis for conserving and managing the red
snapper fishery. NMFS has developed a research plan to improve the
management of red snapper to address this requirement. The research
priorities below are based on this research plan.
1. Red snapper bycatch. The bycatch of red snapper can have
significant impacts from a fisheries management and ecological
standpoint. Research on bycatch of red snapper should focus on the
following:
(a) Shrimp trawl bycatch of red snapper. Specific guidance and
research requirements are contained in the Cooperative Bycatch Plan for
the Southeast, available from NMFS (see ). Studies are needed to
address:
(1) Identification, development, and evaluation of gear, non-gear,
and tactical fishing options to reduce bycatch of red snapper.
(2) Development and evaluation of statistical methods to estimate
the bycatch mortality of red snapper in the Gulf shrimp trawl
fisheries.
(3) Studies of the survival rates of juvenile red snapper that
escape shrimp trawls through bycatch reduction devices (BRDs).
(b) Directed red snapper fisheries. The reef fish fishery is
exploited by a variety of fishing gear and tactics. The following
research on regulatory discards is needed to better evaluate the
effectiveness of management measures such as minimum size limits and
closed seasons:
(1) Development and evaluation of gear and fishing tactics to
minimize the bycatch of or increase the survival of discarded red
snapper and other reef fish species.
(2) Characterization and assessment of the impact of bycatch of
undersized reef fish species, including release mortality,
[[Page 52392]]
during recreational and commercial fishing. Research on the catch-and-
release mortality of red snapper and other reef fish species, by gear
(e.g., capture by commercial bandit rigs that are electrically or
hydraulicly powered), fishery (e.g., headboat, private boat, charter
boat, commercial), and depth. Studies are needed to specifically relate
``sink or swim'' data, which can be obtained through observer programs,
with long-term survival rates.
(3) Research to document predation rates on discarded red snapper
and other reef fish species.
(c) Economic considerations of bycatch reduction. (1) Develop and
test models, using actual or hypothesized data, that explicitly
consider the costs and gains of bycatch reduction. The models should
include the effects of the management systems for the directed and
bycatch fisheries and should attempt to describe criteria for the
correct level of bycatch reduction (e.g., marginal cost and value of
reduction are equal). Studies should evaluate alternatives to bycatch
reduction devices (BRDs).
(2) Develop economic incentives and other innovative alternatives
to gear and season/area restrictions as ways to reduce bycatch. The
proposal should attempt to contrast the relative costs, potential
gains, and level of bycatch reduction associated with traditional
methods and any innovative alternatives addressed by the proposal.
(3) Develop and apply methodology to evaluate the use of bycatch
quotas for all fisheries but particularly with respect to red snapper
bycatch in the shrimp fishery.
2. Red snapper biological information. Collection of basic
biological data on red snapper.
(a) Contributions to the development of annual age-length keys and
description of the age structure of red snapper populations.
(b) Design of sampling systems to provide a production-style aging
program for the red snapper fishery. Effective dockside sampling
programs are needed over a wide geographic range to collect information
on reproductive state, size, age, and sex.
(c) Reproduction studies of red snapper.
(1) Maturity schedules, fecundity, and sex ratios of red snapper.
(2) Studies to characterize the actual reproductive contribution of
females by age.
(d) Identification of sources of recruitment of red snapper in Gulf
waters.
3. Red snapper population assessment. (a) Determination of the
habitat and limiting factors for important red snapper populations in
the Gulf.
(b) Estimates of red snapper abundance, age structure and
population dynamics on oil platforms and other artificial structures.
4. Management of red snapper. (a) Characterization and evaluation
of biological impacts (e.g., changes in age or size structure of red
snapper populations in response to management strategies).
(b) Research to evaluate the use of minimum size limits as a
management tool in the red snapper fishery.
(c) Research to collect economics data on Texas anglers since Texas
does not participate in the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics
Survey (MRFSS. Data requirements include those identified in the MRFSS
add-on economic survey developed by NMFS. (See Section V.C.1.,
regarding collection of information.)
(d) Research to develop bioeconomic models to optimize allocations
and benefits derived from the red snapper resource.
D. Coastal Migratory Pelagic Fisheries
The commercial and recreational demand for migratory coastal
pelagics has led to overfishing for certain species. Additionally, some
are transboundary with Mexico and other countries and may ultimately
demand international management attention. Current high priorities
include:
1. Recruitment indices for king and Spanish mackerel, cobia,
dolphin, wahoo, and bluefish, primarily from fishery-independent data
sources.
2. Fishery-independent methods of assessing stock abundance of king
and Spanish mackerel.
3. Release mortality data for all coastal pelagic species.
4. Improved catch statistics for all species in Mexican waters,
with special emphasis on king mackerel, dolphin, and wahoo. This
includes length-frequency and life history information.
5. Information on populations of coastal pelagics overwintering off
the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic States of North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, especially concerning population
size, age, and movement patterns. Calculate the mixing rates for
Atlantic/Gulf king mackerel on an annual basis.
6. Development of a practical method for aging dolphin.
7. Basic biostatistics for cobia, dolphin, and wahoo to develop
age-length keys and maturation schedules for stock assessments and to
evaluate stock structures.
8. Impact of bag limits on total catch and landings of king and
Spanish mackerel, dolphin, wahoo, and cobia.
9. Demand and/or supply functions for the commercial king mackerel
fisheries, including baseline cost and return data. Cooperative efforts
that cover the entire Southeast and employ common methodologies for all
geographic areas are strongly encouraged.
E. Groundfish and Estuarine Fishes
Substantial stocks of groundfish and estuarine species occur in the
Gulf and South Atlantic. Most of the database for assessments comes
from studies conducted by NMFS and state fishery management agencies.
Because of the historical and current size of these fish stocks, of
their importance as predator and prey species, and of their current or
potential use as commercial and recreational fisheries, more
information on their biology and life history is needed. General
research needs are:
1. Red drum. (a) Size and age structure of the offshore adult stock
in the Gulf and South Atlantic.
(b) Life history parameters and stock structure for the Gulf and
the South Atlantic: Migratory patterns, long-term changes in abundance,
growth rates, and age structure. Specific research needs for Atlantic
red drum are estimates of fecundity as a function of length and weight
and improved coast-wide coverage for age-length keys.
(c) Catch-and-release mortality rates from inshore and nearshore
waters.
(d) Estimates of absolute abundance of red drum in the Gulf of
Mexico and the Atlantic.
2. Life history and stock structure for weakfish, menhaden, spot,
croaker, flounder, sheepshead, black drum, mullet, and white trout in
the Gulf and the South Atlantic. Migratory patterns, long-term changes
in abundance, growth rates, and age structure and comparisons of the
inshore and offshore components of recreational and commercial
fisheries.
3. Improved catch-and-effort statistics from recreational and
commercial fisheries, including development of age-length keys for size
and age structure of the catch, to develop production models. (See
Section V.C.1., regarding collection of information.)
4. Abundance and distribution information on spiny dogfish off the
coast of North Carolina, and particularly southern North Carolina.
5. Restoration of access to historical habitat for diadromous fish.
Study, design, and plan installation of up and downstream fish passage
facilities or removal of migratory obstructions.
[[Page 52393]]
Construct fish passages and remove obstructions. Conduct post
construction evaluation of effectiveness in restoring habitat access
and fish stocks.
F. Essential Fish Habitat
1. Determine the effects of fishing gears (e.g., trawls and traps)
and practices (e.g., gear retrieval and anchoring) on essential fish
habitat (EFH), with emphasis on benthic habitats within the EEZ of the
Caribbean, southern U.S. Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico regions.
2. Develop scientific data to allow the identification and
refinement, as appropriate, of EFH designations for the various life
stages of Federally managed species.
3. Develop scientific data to allow the identification and
refinement, as appropriate, of Habitat Areas of Particular Concern
(HAPC) designation for the various life stages of Federally managed
species.
4. Develop GIS mapping protocols and tools to allow the
presentation of EFH, HAPC, fishery distribution information, and other
relevant data for the southeastern United States, including Puerto Rico
and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
G. General
Many other areas of research including methods for data collection,
management, analysis, and better conservation, need to be addressed for
improved understanding and management of fishery resources. Examples of
such research needs include:
1. Identification and profiling of fishing communities,
characterization of community dependence upon fishery resources and
demographics of the families dependent on fishing or fishing related
businesses in the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Caribbean. Focus should be on
identification of all types of fishery dependency including commercial
harvest, recreational harvest, processing, support and supply, etc. The
degree of dependence on specific sectors and species should be
identified. (See Section V.C.1., regarding collection of information.)
2. Development of improved methods and procedures for transferring
technology and educating constituency groups concerning fishery
management and conservation programs. Of special importance are
programs concerned with controlled access and introduction of
conservation gear.
3. Design and evaluation of innovative approaches to fishery
management with special attention given to those approaches that
control access to specific fisheries.
4. Examination of the feasibility and efficacy of license buy-back
programs.
5. Social, cultural, and /or economic aspects of establishing
fishery reserves. Studies should employ accepted data collection
methods and should include consumptive users, non-consumptive users,
and persons not dependent on use of marine resources. Various
management alternatives should be considered in the studies, e.g.,
exclude all users, all consumptive users, size of reserve, anchoring
rules, or any other relevant management tools. (See Section V.C.1.,
regarding collection of information.)
6. Design and evaluation of limited access options for the red
snapper and king mackerel recreational fisheries with specific emphasis
on modes of fishing and jurisdictional issues.
7. Estimation of demand models for recreational fishing trips when
the target species include a single species, an aggregate of related
species, or all species combined. Studies using new data from the
Southeast economics add-on to Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics
Survey are highly encouraged. Priority species include red drum Spanish
mackerel, red grouper, wahoo, and dolphin.
8. Sociocultural survey of commercial fishing in the Florida Keys.
Proposals should address all fishing enterprises including potential
sociocultural effects of large marine reserves in the Tortugas area.
(See Section V.C.1., regarding collection of information.)
9. Studies to evaluate the value of non-consumptive uses of marine
resources, especially as related to diving activities and marine
reserves.
10. Examination and comparison of the expected economic and social
impacts of fisheries regulations with realized impact for all regulated
species. Attempts should be made to identify and isolate behavioral
causes of divergence as opposed to environmental causes. (See Section
V.C.1., regarding collection of information.)
11. Examination of the motivational causes that determine fishing
behavior, both commercial and recreational. For the commercial sector,
including the operation side of the for-hire industry, specific
attention should be given to whether profit maximization is an
appropriate motivational assumption for fishing behavior. (See Section
V.C.1., regarding collection of information.)
12. Determination of the recreational value and economic impact of
the headboat fishery in the Southeast. This will require the use of
collected data to generate recreational demand equations for trips in
general and for various key species. Economic impact assessment will
require the collection of appropriate expenditure data and imputation
using standard impact assessment software. (See Section V.C.1.,
regarding collection of information.)
13. Evaluation of the extent and impact of recreational sales (all
species) on recreational harvests, commercial closures and demand for
recreational fishing. (See Section V.C.1., regarding collection of
information.)
14. Identification of options for the economic affects of effort
control/limited access in the recreational fishery. (See Section
V.C.1., regarding collection of information.)
15. Evaluation of the issue of fishing opportunity being
transferred from commercial to recreational or conservation sectors
under a transferable rights program. (See Section V.C.1., regarding
collection of information.)
16. Evaluation of the recreational harvest of spiny lobster and
queen conch in the U.S. Caribbean. (See Section V.C.1., regarding
collection of information.)
III. How to Apply
A. Eligibility
To apply for grants or cooperative agreements, you must follow the
instructions in this document. Eligible applicants include institutions
of higher education, hospitals, other nonprofits, commercial
organizations, and state, local and Indian tribal governments. Federal
agencies or institutions are not eligible. Foreign governments,
organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, and
international organizations are excluded for purposes of this
solicitation since the objective of the MARFIN program is to optimize
research and development benefits from U.S. marine fishery resources.
(See A. Background.)
We are strongly committed to broadening the participation of
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving
Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities in its educational
and research programs. DOC/NOAA's goals are to achieve full
participation by Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) in order to
advance the development of human potential, to strengthen the nation's
capacity to provide high-quality education, and to increase
opportunities for MSIs to participate in and benefit from Federal
financial assistance programs. DOC/NOAA encourages all
[[Page 52394]]
applicants to include meaningful participation of MSIs.
B. Duration and Terms of Funding
We will award grants or cooperative agreements for a maximum period
of up to three years, consisting of one, two, or three budget periods.
The award period depends upon the duration of funding requested in the
application, the decision of the NMFS selecting official on the amount
of funding, the results of post-selection negotiations between the
applicant and NOAA officials, and pre-award review of the application
by NOAA and Department of Commerce (DOC) officials. Normally, each
project budget period is 12 months in duration.
C. Cost Sharing
Cost-sharing is not required for the MARFIN program. Applications
must provide the total budget necessary to accomplish the project,
including contributions and/or donations. Because 15 U.S.C. 713c-
3(c)(4)(B) provides that the amount of Federal funding must be at least
50 percent of the estimated cost of the project, the total costs shown
in the proposal will be evaluated for appropriateness according to the
administrative rules, including 15 CFR Part 14.23 and 15 CFR Part
24.24, as appropriate. If an applicant chooses to cost-share, and if
that application is selected for funding, the applicant is bound by the
percentage of the cost share reflected in the grant or cooperative
agreement award. Note: Costs incurred in either the development of a
project or the financial assistance application, or time expended in
any subsequent discussions or negotiations prior to the award, are
neither reimbursable nor recognizable as part of the recipient's cost
share.
D. Application Format and Requirements
The Department of Commerce Pre-Award Notification Requirements for
Grants and Cooperative Agreements contained in the Federal Register
notice of October 1, 2001 (66 FR 49917), are applicable to this
solicitation. Your application must be complete and must follow the
format described in the MARFIN Application Package. The standard forms
in a MARFIN application include the MARFIN Project Budget and the
MARFIN Project Summary. Applicants should contact the NMFS Southeast
Regional Office for a copy of this solicitation's MARFIN Application
Package (see ADDRESSES). You may also obtain the application package
from the MARFIN Home Page at: http://caldera.sero.nmfs.gov/grants/programs/marfin.htm.
Project applications must identify the principal participants, and
include copies of any agreements describing the specific tasks to be
performed by participants. Project applications should give a clear
presentation of the proposed work, the methods for carrying out the
project, its relevance to managing and enhancing the use of Gulf of
Mexico and/or South Atlantic fishery resources, and cost estimates as
they relate to specific aspects of the project. Budgets must include a
detailed breakdown, by category of expenditures, with appropriate
justification for both the Federal and non-Federal shares.
Applications should exhibit familiarity with related work that is
completed or ongoing. Where appropriate, proposals should be multi-
disciplinary. In addition to referencing specific area(s) of special
interest, proposals should state whether the research applies to the
Gulf of Mexico only, the South Atlantic only, or to both areas.
Successful applicants may be required to collect and manage data in
accordance with standardized procedures and formats approved by NMFS
and to participate with NMFS in specific cooperative activities that
are determined by consultations between NMFS and successful applicants
before project grants are awarded. All applications must include
funding for the principal investigator to participate in an annual
MARFIN Conference in Tampa, FL at the completion of the project.
Applications must be one-sided and unbound. All incomplete
applications are returned to the applicant. Ten copies (one original
and nine copies) of each application are required and should be
submitted to the NMFS Southeast Regional Office, State/Federal Liaison
Office (see ADDRESSES). The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has
approved 10 copies, under OMB Control No. 0648-0175.
E. Indirect Costs
The total dollar amount of the indirect costs proposed in an
application under this program must not exceed the indirect cost rate
negotiated and approved by a cognizant Federal agency prior to the
proposed effective date of the award or 25 percent of the Federal share
of the total proposed direct costs dollar amount in the application,
whichever is less. A copy of the current, approved, negotiated Indirect
Cost Agreement with the Federal Government must be included with the
application.
IV. Screening, Evaluation, and Selection Procedures
A. Initial Screening of Applications
When we receive applications we will screen them to ensure that
they were received by the deadline date (see DATES); include SF 424
signed and dated by an authorized representative; were submitted by an
eligible applicant; address one of the funding priorities for federally
managed species; and include a budget, statement of work, and
milestones, and identify the principal investigator. Before the
deadline, you have the opportunity to correct any deficiencies in your
application. After the deadline, the application must remain as
submitted; no changes can be made to it. If your application does not
conform to these requirements and the deadline for submission has
passed, the application is returned without further consideration.
We do not have to screen applications before the submission
deadline, nor do we have to give you an opportunity to correct any
deficiencies that cause your application to be rejected.
B. Evaluation of Proposed Projects
1. Technical evaluation. Applications responsive to this
solicitation will be evaluated by three or more appropriate private and
public sector experts to determine their technical merit. These
reviewers will provide individual evaluations of the proposals. No
consensus advice will be given. These reviewers provide comments and
assign scores to the applications based on the following criteria, with
the weights shown in parentheses:
a. Does the proposal have a clearly stated goal(s) with associated
objectives that meet the needs outlined in the project narrative? (30
points maximum)
b. Does the proposal clearly identify and describe, in the project
outline and statement of work, scientific methodologies and analytical
procedures that will adequately address project goals and objectives?
(30 points maximum)
c. Do the principal investigators provide a realistic timetable to
enable full accomplishment of all aspects of the research? (20 points
maximum)
d. How effective are the proposed methods in enabling the principal
investigators to maintain stewardship of the project performance,
finances, cooperative relationships, and reporting requirements? (10
points maximum)
e. Does the budget appropriately allocate and justify costs? (10
points maximum)
2. Scientific Panel. Applications together with the technical
reviewers'
[[Page 52395]]
comments and scores are presented to a Scientific Panel composed of
NMFS scientific experts. This panel provides comments and rates each
proposal as either ``Recommended for Funding'' or ``Not Recommended for
Funding'' based on merits of the science, the necessity of the
information that would be gained by the project, and the likelihood of
assisting industry or fisheries management.
3. MARFIN Panel. Proposals that are ``Recommended for Funding'' by
the Scientific Panel are presented to a panel of non-NOAA fishery
experts known as the MARFIN Panel. Each member of the MARFIN Panel
individually considers if needs of the Agency are addressed in each
proposal, if the project assists industry, and if the project addresses
issues that are important to regional fisheries management. The
individuals on the MARFIN Panel provide comments and rate each of these
proposals as either ``Recommended for Funding'' or ``Not Recommended
for Funding.'' No consensus advice will be given by the panel. The
Program Manager ranks the proposals in the order of preferred funding,
based on the number of MARFIN Panel members recommending the proposal
for funding.
4. Regional Administrator. The proposals reviewed by the MARFIN
Panel are ranked by the Program Manager in the order of preferred
funding, based on the number of MARFIN Panel members recommending the
proposal for funding, then provided to the Regional Administrator, who
is the selecting official. The Regional Administrator also receives the
MARFIN Panel members' individual comments, and comments from the
Scientific Panel for projects it rated as ``Recommended for Funding.''
The Regional Administrator, in consultation with the Assistant
Administrator for Fisheries, determines the projects to be funded.
Though rarely used, the Regional Administrator has an option to make a
selection that falls outside the MARFIN Panel's order of preferred
funding on the following grounds: for geographic diversity, if not
enough projects have addressed a priority, or because of duplication
with other funded grants within NOAA. The Regional Administrator will
justify in writing any such selection.
The exact amount of funds awarded, the final scope of activities,
the project duration, and specific NMFS cooperative involvement with
the activities of each project are determined in pre-award negotiations
between the applicant, the NOAA Grants Office and the NMFS Program
Office. Projects must not be initiated by recipients until a signed
award is received from the NOAA Grants Office. Successful applications
generally are recommended within 210 days from the date of publication
of this notice. The earliest start date of awards average 90 days after
each project is selected and after all NMFS/applicant negotiations of
cooperative activities have been completed. The earliest start date of
awards is about 300 days after the date of publication of this notice.
Applicants should consider this selection and processing time in
developing requested start dates for their applications.
V. Administrative Requirements
A. Your Obligations as an Applicant
You must:
1. Meet all application requirements and provide all information
necessary for the evaluation of the proposal, including one signed
original and nine signed copies of the application.
2. Be available to respond to questions during the review and
evaluation of the proposal(s).
B. Your Obligations as a Successful Applicant (Recipient)
If you are selected to receive a grant award for a project, you
must:
1. Manage the day-to-day operations of the project, be responsible
for the performance of all activities for which funds are granted, and
be responsible for the satisfaction of all administrative and
managerial conditions imposed by the award.
2. Keep records sufficient to document any costs incurred under the
award, and allow access to these records for audit and examination by
the Secretary of Commerce, the Comptroller General of the United
States, or their authorized representatives; and, submit financial
status reports (SF 269) to NOAA Grants in accordance with the award
conditions.
3. Submit semiannual project status reports on the use of funds and
progress of the project to us within 30 days after the end of each 6-
month period. You will submit these reports to the individual
identified as the NMFS Program Officer in the funding agreement.
4. Submit a final report within 90 days after completion of each
project to the NMFS Program Officer. The final report must describe the
project and include an evaluation of the work you performed and the
results and benefits in sufficient detail to enable us to assess the
success of the completed project.
5. In addition to the final report, we request that you submit any
publications printed with grant funds (such as manuals, surveys, etc.)
To the NMFS Program Officer for dissemination to the public.
We are committed to using available technology to achieve the
timely and wide distribution of final reports to those who would
benefit from this information. Therefore, you are required to submit
final reports in electronic format, in accordance with the award terms
and conditions, for publication on the NMFS MARFIN Home Page. You may
charge the costs associated with preparing and transmitting your final
reports in electronic format to the grant award.
We will provide you with OMB-approved formats for the semiannual
and final reports.
C. Other Requirements of Recipients
If a grant is made that specifically requires the collection of
information from the public, the grantee is responsible for preparing
the documentation necessary to obtain Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
approval prior to the start of the collection. This approval process
takes a minimum of 4 months. This provision especially applies to
priorities A.6.(c), B.3.(e), B.3.(f), C.4.(c), E.3., G.1., G.5., G. 8.,
G.10., G.11., G.12., G.13., G.14., G.15., and G.16. Information on the
PRA process can be found at the following Web site address:
www.rdc.noaa.gov@pra.
Applications under this program are subject to the provisions of
Executive Order 12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.''
Prior notice and an opportunity for public comments are not
required by the Administrative Procedure Act or any other law for this
notice concerning grants, benefits, and contracts. Therefore, a
regulatory flexibility analysis is not required for purposes of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act.
This action has been determined to be not significant for purposes
of Executive Order 12866.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required
to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure
to comply with, a collection of information subject to the Paperwork
Reduction Act, unless that collection displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
This notice contains collection-of-information requirements subject
to the Paperwork Reduction Act. The use of Standard Forms 424, SF-LLL,
and SF-424B have been approved by OMB under the respective control
numbers 0348-0043, 0348-0046 and 0348-0040. The other application
requirements and the semi-annual and final reports have
[[Page 52396]]
been approved by OMB under control number 0648-0175. Public reporting
burden for the latter collections of information is estimated to
average 4 hours for an application, 1 hour for a semi-annual report,
and 1 hour for a final report. These estimates include the time for
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. Send comments regarding these burden
estimates or any other aspect of these collections of information,
including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Ellie Francisco
Roche (see ADDRESSES).
Authority: 15 U.S.C. 713c-3(d).
Dated: October 5, 2001.
William T. Hogarth,
Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries
Service.
[FR Doc. 01-25902 Filed 10-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-S