NOAA announced the availability of approximately $1 million in Ruth D. Gates Coral Restoration Innovation Grants funding for coral restoration awards in 2024. These coral restoration grants support the development and application of novel coral restoration and intervention methods to restore reproductively viable populations of corals. Proposals are due February 14, 2024. Contact: Liz Fairey.

Our long-time Puerto Rico partner, Institute for Socio-Ecological Research, is poised to restore coral reefs on a massive scale with $10.6 million in new BIL-IRA funding through NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation. The project is also providing 60 new jobs to Puerto Rican residents, including local scientists and students. “What bigger satisfaction for me than to restore my home and help local people,” says Manuel Olmeda Saldaña, who was hired as ISER’s new Herbivore Manager. “There are a lot of people who are very passionate about their home in Puerto Rico. Getting them involved creates a more sustainable future.” Contact: Sean Griffin.

The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office will mentor five interns in summer 2024, including two through the Chesapeake-Student Recruitment, Early Advisement, and Mentoring program. Interns contribute to NOAA’s mission while also gaining valuable experience, boosting their resumes, and trying out a potential career. Applications are due January 28, 2024. Contact: Bart Merrick.

With $2.5 million in new BIL-IRA funding through NOAA’s Office of Habitat Conservation, the Ipswich Watershed Association and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries will address dams on the Ipswich and Parker rivers that block fish passage. Removing dams reconnects ecosystems upon which fish, wildlife, and people still depend. Taking down obsolete dams also protects communities and infrastructure. Climate change threatens to bring more flooding to New England, which aging dams may not be able to withstand. Contact: Brian Kelder.

A group of unlikely restoration heroes reached an impressive milestone this year: the millionth sea urchin is now working with its companions, helping struggling corals in Hawaiʻi. Since 2011, the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources has grown and released urchins in Kaneohe Bay in partnership with NOAA. The urchins eat invasive algae threatening corals and their ecosystems. This prickly partnership began after M/V Cape Flattery grounded on a shallow reef off of Barbers Point on Oʻahu in 2005. Damage from the ship’s removal affected almost 20 acres of reef, scraping away approximately one million corals. Contact: Shannon Ruseborn.

Abalone are in decline in South California due to a multitude of factors. With funding from an oil spill settlement, NOAA and partners are working on restoration efforts to address this problem. NOAA and its partners identified the Gaviota Coast Abalone Restoration Project in the final restoration plan of the 2015 Refugio Beach oil spill settlement as one of the preferred projects to compensate for subtidal injuries. The 10-year goal of the project is to plant 40,000 red abalone to create a self-sustaining population in the area. Juvenile abalone will be outplanted to nearby reefs affected by the Refugio Beach spill. Contact: Jennifer Boyce.

To improve survival of released reef fish in the southeast, Return 'Em Right collaborated with for-hire captains, private recreational anglers, scientists, and fisheries managers. They created a standard set of best release practices for reef fish. This effort culminated in the development of the Return ‘Em Right Best Release Practices Manual and fact sheets. This manual is a resource for anglers to guide their decisions on the water and improve survival of reef fish. The manual and fact sheets include much more information to make sure we are giving reef fish the best chance of surviving when it comes to release. Contact: Julia Goss. 

Coral reefs provide crucial habitat and storm protection and economic benefits as destinations for diving, fishing, and boating. Mission: Iconic Reefs is an effort to protect and restore seven key reef sites in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. This year, a marine heat wave caused extremely high ocean temperatures and a coral bleaching event in and around Florida. In this episode, we'll hear from Jennifer Moore in NOAA Fisheries about the response. Listen to this new NOAA Fisheries Podcast to learn more about this effort.

NOAA and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation recently announced projects recommended for funding under the 2023 National Coastal Resilience Fund. The fund will invest $144 million in 109 projects that restore, increase, and strengthen natural infrastructure—the landscapes that help absorb the impacts of storms and floods—to ultimately protect coastal communities and enhance fish and wildlife habitat. The 109 grants announced will generate more than $97 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of $242 million. NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management is the lead federal partner on the fund.

NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region recently announced the availability of up to $106 million in funding through the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund for Pacific salmon and steelhead recovery and conservation projects. This funding—which includes funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act—will support state and tribal salmon restoration projects and activities to protect, conserve and restore these fish populations and their habitats. The application deadline is March 4, 2024.

NOAA partners with the Mt. Adams Institute to provide opportunities for military veterans to build their skills and work experience contributing to habitat and fisheries restoration projects along the West Coast. Several internship opportunities are now open in California, Oregon, and Washington. Visit the Mt. Adams Institute’s VetWork page to learn more.