THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502190066
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LANE DEGREGORY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
With a $1 million grant from the state legislature, officials at North Carolina's Division of Marine Fisheries are trying to help fishermen float new ideas for their industry.
More than 140 commercial watermen and recreational fishermen from throughout the coastal counties applied for funds to test new products, improve existing gear, market new species, reduce by-catches and find better ways to keep their endangered industry afloat.
Next month, state fisheries officials will decide whose projects to fund - and how much money each applicant will receive.
``We wanted to do something to help people who were just kicking ideas around the kitchen table and needed money to get their projects off the ground,'' said Maury Wolff, who coordinates grants for the North Carolina fisheries department.
``These projects will make division officials more aware of what people's interests really are,'' Wolff said Friday from his Morehead City office.
``They will help us see what people in the field are working on. And, maybe, they will help us prioritize some of our own state activities for the fisheries industry.''
Funded about a year ago with a one-time appropriation from the General Assembly, the fisheries research grant program is the first of its kind for North Carolina. Throughout the fall, fisheries officials helped recreational anglers and commercial watermen write grant proposals for any new or interesting ideas they wanted to try. Fish packers, processors and seafood dealers also were eligible for the state funds.
The grant application process was the first opportunity many watermen have had to interact with state fisheries regulators in a positive manner.
Usually, commercial fishermen only come in contact with fisheries officials to apply for permits, attend regulatory meetings or through law enforcement activities. This program gives North Carolina fisheries administrators an opportunity to enhance the commercial industry's own innovative efforts.
Grant applications were due Jan.16. Since then, fisheries experts throughout the country have been reviewing proposals and evaluating ideas.
Wolff said he and his colleagues were ``extremely impressed by the quality and quantity of applications'' they received.
``Those fishermen are really, really working hard out there to keep their own industry alive,'' Wolff said. ``They're the ones that are going to make this program successful. They're so dedicated, we know they'll make these grants work.''
A total of 143 applications were accepted, Wolff said. But only 137 are being considered for funding because of various criteria that were not met. If state officials had fully funded each request, they would have needed $8.6 million.
No limit was set for individual grant amounts. Fishermen will receive 75 percent of their funds at the start of their projects, and the balance once a final report is submitted to the state fisheries division. Throughout the course of their research, fishermen will have to keep detailed records.
``Fishermen should know by the end of March whether they got any grant money for this year,'' said Wolff.
``Some grants will be spread out over two years. Some aquaculture projects may require three years. But most will be one-year efforts.
``I assume, and hope, that these grants will be renewable.''
Of the 137 research applications being considered, 49 were submitted by commercial fishermen. At least 20 of those applicants proposed ways to reduce by-catches: unwanted fish that are killed as watermen try to net another species. Other ideas included establishing conch fisheries, developing alternative bait for crab pots and fishing for unusual or underutilized species.
A dozen applications were turned in by recreational anglers. Most of those ideas involved establishing voluntary fish-tagging programs or finding better ways to release unwanted fish alive.
Aquaculture ideas were the focus of 37 applications - most from the southern portion of the Carolina coast. Some watermen wanted to find better ways to grow bigger and healthier oysters. Others proposed improving clam beds or harvesting methods.
``We got 13 applications from seafood processors who wanted to develop new foodstuffs or find ways to package products for longer shelf life,'' Wolff said. ``Another 26 applications were for a variety of ideas, from developing fisheries software to exploring historic aspects of the industry to addressing environmental concerns.''
Albemarle-area fishermen submitted the most applications as a group - with 36 projects proposed. Pamlico Sound watermen turned in 35 applications; Morehead City area fishermen filed 35 proposals; Wilmington fishermen submitted 19 applications; 12 proposals involved the entire coastal area.
Grants will be split as equitably as possible among the geographic regions.
Until the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission approves the research projects in mid-March, specific information about the proposals is confidential, Wolff said. Applications will be selected based on the projects' abilities to enhance fisheries resources, benefit the public and remain cost effective. Originality and innovation also factor into the equation.
``Once the money is awarded, we will monitor the progress of each project from our state fisheries field offices,'' Wolff said. ``We'll help the fishermen figure out what kind of data to keep, and how to best gather it.
``These ideas don't have to succeed. The fishermen just have to make a good faith effort at their endeavors. We may learn some valuable information from failures, too.'' by CNB