The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting applications for proposals for the 2010 funding cycle from the N.C. Marine Resources Fund.

The fund, which receives proceeds from the sale of Coastal Recreational Fishing Licenses, provides grants for projects that help manage, protect, restore, develop, cultivate and enhance the state’s marine resources. This is the first request for proposals issued for the fund.

Only universities, North Carolina local government entities, the state Division of Marine Fisheries and Wildlife Resources Commission are eligible to apply. Others must partner with an eligible entity.

Proposals will be evaluated based on the CRFL Strategic Plan for the Conservation and Improvement of North Carolina’s Marine Resources. The plan considers priority research needs identified in fishery management plans approved by the Marine Fisheries Commission, issues identified in the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan and research needs identified cooperatively with other agencies. The strategic plan can be found on the Division of Marine Fisheries Web site at http://www.ncfisheries.net/CRFL/index.html.

Projects submitted for this funding cycle should fall under one of the three programmatic areas:

Fish – Projects that estimate fishing effort, harvest and mortality of important coastal fish species, the socio-economic attributes of coastal fisheries or the characterization of catch and release mortality;

Habitat – Projects that improve the effectiveness of existing environmental programs or that identify, designate or protect coastal fish habitat;

People – Projects that provide increased access to fisheries resources and enhancement structures or provide better public education and enrichment products.

All proposals must be submitted to the director of the Division of Marine Fisheries by 5 p.m. July 31.  Directions for submitting a proposal and an application form can be downloaded from the Division of Marine Fisheries’ Web site at http://www.ncfisheries.net/CRFL/index.html . Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

For more information, contact CRFL Project Coordinator Bonnie Jones at (252) 808-8113 or (800) 682-2698. You may also e-mail Jones at Bonnie.B.Jones@ncdenr.gov

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