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Amata Welcomes $250,000 NOAA Grant for Coral Reef Conservation

November 30, 2023

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming notice of a grant of $250,000 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support subsistence fisheries and protect at risk coral species, and she is congratulating the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources for the successful grant application.

These federal funds are authorized by Congress in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which Amata supported in Congress, along with the yearly appropriations that followed.

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Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata & Director Taotasi Archie Soliai

Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata & Director Taotasi Archie Soliai

“Congratulations to the Department, Director Taotasi Archie Soliai, and everyone who will take part in these assessments and work with these villages,” said Congresswoman Amata. “We are truly blessed with beautiful islands. Thank you to NOAA Administrator Dr. Richard Spinrad for this federal support, and especially for understanding the need to work with our villages because our island subsistence fishing traditions are part of our way.”

On Wednesday, NOAA announced these federal funds to form and train a local watershed assessment team, assess watersheds and coral reefs, and establish baselines and develop restoration plans together with the village councils.

The NOAA project will build capacity to restore two watersheds, enhance survivorship of the threatened coral species Isopora crateriformis, and support subsistence fisheries in economically challenged indigenous Samoan communities.

The NOAA nationwide announcement was $144 million for coastal resilience projects in 31 U.S. states and territories. These 109 total grants will support design and implementation of projects to enhance the resilience of coastal communities, improve habitat for fish and wildlife, or buffer from intense storms, and were awarded through the National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF), a partnership between NOAA, NFWF, the Department of Defense (DOD), Shell USA,TransRe, SalesForce and Oxy.

“NOAA is proud to work with NFWF and partners to help communities be ready and resilient to climate change,” said Dr.Rick Spinrad, NOAA administrator. “Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help bolster community resilience efforts and meet the demand we’re seeing for projects that address coastal hazards and enhance ecosystems that are important for wildlife, communities and the coastal economy.”

“This year’s grant slate continues our significant investments in nature-based solutions that are critical to increasing the resilience of vulnerable communities and protecting and restoring essential habitats for fish and wildlife,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “The NCRF supports the development and implementation of sustainable designs, plans and practices that integrate natural features into successful coastal resilience outcomes and that promote adaptation and resilience to storms, floods and other coastal hazards.”

These new grants are separate and additional to a group of projects announced by NOAA in October.

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Issues:Fisheries