Cooperative
Research Program - CRP
The
Cooperative Research Program (CRP) is a competitive Federal assistance
program that funds projects seeking to increase and improve the
working relationship between researchers from the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), state fishery agencies, universities,
and fishermen. Congress has initiated the cooperative research
funding to assist the NMFS to improve the confidence that both
commercial and recreational fishermen have in the data and analyses
performed in support of fisheries management. The authorizing
statute for the Cooperative Research Program is 15 U.S.C. 713c-3(d).
The CRP has as its principal goal to provide a means of involving commercial
and recreational fishermen in the collection of fundamental fisheries information
to support the development and evaluation of management and regulatory options.
Cooperative
research programs allow scientists and fishermen to bring valuable
tools and experience to the objectives of a research project.
Scientists realize that fishermen have knowledge, skills, and
vessels that would not otherwise be available for research. Fishermen,
willing to work with scientists, recognize that the information
collected will not be used in management decisions unless it
is scientifically credible. The interaction between fishermen
and scientists not only improves the design and implementation
of research studies, but also improves the knowledge and acceptance
of scientific results that are produced by such studies. Working
together, fishermen and scientists can improve our understanding
of the complex interactions between fishery resources and fishing
practices.
The
intent of the cooperative research program in the Southeast Region
is to utilize the collective experience of fishermen and scientists
to produce the best advice to fishery managers based on fishing
experience and sound scientific research procedures. The program
focuses upon critical management needs that have been identified
by managers and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
Strategic Plan for Fisheries Research. As with the Marine Fisheries
Initiative (MARFIN) program, this program is coordinated with
other programs to provide regional assessments of fishery resources.
The cooperative research program provides the necessary programmatic
integration through cooperative planning, accomplishment of program
activities and sharing of results.
Note: For
more information about the NOAA
Community-based Restoration Program (Also known as CRP).
Information
on Written Agreements
All
applicants must include a written agreement with a person employed
by the National Marine Fisheries Service who will act as a partner
in the proposed research project. Also, your budget must reflect
time and cost estimates for the NMFS partner. These costs are
not to be included as part of the project cost (Federal funds
requested), but should be included as a separate budget item.
Applicants will work with the NMFS partner to assist in preparing
the agreement and obtain an estimated cost for partner salary
and related items. If you are unable to locate
a NMFS partner for your proposal, contact Guy Davenport at the
Southeast Fisheries Science Center (305) 361-4468.
If
an applicant is not a commercial or recreational fisherman, a
written agreement describing the involvement between the applicant
and a commercial or recreational fisherman/fishermen must be
submitted with the application.
For
additional information on this subject contact: Bob
Sadler (727) 824-532
