NH Delegation Announces Nearly $300K NOAA Grant to Support Fishery Research

(Washington, DC) -- U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), announced today with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) a nearly $300,000 federal award through NOAA to the University of New Hampshire to support the development and application of genomic tools to help guide management of the Atlantic cod fishery. The funding will be provided by the 2023 Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Competitive Grants Program, which helps address the needs of fishing communities, support economic opportunities and build and maintain resilient and sustainable fisheries.

“New Hampshire fisheries support our coastal communities’ economy and are part of our state’s treasured cultural identity,” said Senator Shaheen. “As our fisheries face ongoing challenges, it’s important for us to invest in new tools to help sustainably manage these critical resources. As chair of the Senate subcommittee that funds NOAA, I’m pleased to see the agency select the University of New Hampshire for new funding to support research aimed at helping us improve the management of the Atlantic cod fishery.”

“This funding to the University of New Hampshire will help protect and preserve the cod population along our Seacoast, which in turn will help New Hampshire’s fishing industry continue to thrive,” Senator Hassan said. “I will keep working with the delegation to secure federal resources that will help strengthen the economy on our Seacoast and across the state.”

“The pioneering researchers and scientists at the University of New Hampshire are leading the charge to develop more sustainable strategies for management and harvesting at our fisheries,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “These funds will support their important work and will help identify best practices for the Atlantic Cod Fishery.”

“It is important that we continue to address the needs of New Hampshire’s fishing industry and take steps to improve management of our fisheries,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’m pleased that NOAA is recommending the University of New Hampshire’s project for funding to develop tools to improve fisheries management, boost our local economy, and help our fishing industry grow and thrive.”

Shaheen leads the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, which funds NOAA. In the fiscal year (FY) 2023 government funding law, Shaheen secured $6.35 billion for NOAA, which is an increase of $475 million or 8 percent over last year’s funding level. This includes $761 million for NOAA research, much of which pertains to combating the climate crisis. This funding will help coastal communities in New Hampshire and across the nation bolster their resilience to changing climate, as well as support ocean health and research.  Shaheen has long been a strong advocate for New Hampshire fishermen. As the Chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Shaheen has repeatedly prevented NOAA from imposing the costly at-sea monitoring fee on Granite State fishermen and once again secured necessary funding to prevent the burden from being imposed on fishermen. Shaheen has also repeatedly secured funding for Northeast groundfish research and lobster research. Shaheen has also announced nearly $6 million in COVID-19 financial relief for New Hampshire fisheries that she helped secure as part of the CARES Act and the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. Earlier this month, Shaheen announced a nearly $1.2 million federal award through NOAA to the Northeastern Regional Association of Coastal Ocean Observing Systems (NERACOOS) to support improved and enhanced coastal and ocean observing systems.   

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