January 5, 2006, Alexandria, VA—Through FishAmerica’s partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Community-based Restoration Program, up to $800,000 is available to restore marine and anadromous fisheries habitat across the coastal United States and the Great Lakes basin. This partnership emphasizes hands-on, grassroots approaches for on-the-ground restoration of marine, estuarine and riparian habitats, including salt marshes, seagrass beds, mangrove forests and freshwater habitats important to anadromous fish species such as salmon and striped bass that spawn in freshwater and migrate to the sea.

"FishAmerica is looking forward to another successful year of partnering with the NOAA Restoration Center," said Johanna Laderman, managing director of the FishAmerica Foundation. "Since 1998, our close work with diligent community-based restoration leaders in 25 states has turned more than $3.7 million in funding into $8.6 million in vital fisheries habitat."

Community-based nonprofit organizations, such as local sporting clubs and conservation associations, as well as state and local agencies are encouraged to submit proposals. Projects must result in on-the-ground habitat restoration, clearly demonstrate significant benefits to marine, estuarine or anadromous fisheries resources, particularly sportfish, and must involve community participation through an educational or volunteer component tied to the restoration activities. Applicants are encouraged to partner with NOAA staff in order to strengthen the development and implementation of sound restoration projects.