This
program is designed to provide grants and cooperative agreements
for biological, economic,sociological, public policy, and other
research and administrative projects to benefit U.S. fisheries
industries and contribute to the economic and social welfare
of the Nation. Another program objective is to award grants and
cooperative agreements to develop innovative approaches and methods
for ensuring the safety, quality and integrity of U.S. fishery
products.
This
program has been used to fund the five states bordering the Gulf
of Mexico for projects and other measures designed to alleviate
the long term effects of disasters on the Gulf's fishery resources
and associated habitats. In 2006, Congress provided $128 million
to the Gulf States for fishery disaster relief from the effects
of Hurricane Katrina. In 1997, as mandated by Congress, $11.5
million was provided to the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Alabama, and Florida to restore fisheries damaged by hurricanes,
floods and their after effects that occurred from August 22,
1992 through December 31, 1995.
