PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
Nondiscretionary funding under this authorization provides support to State agencies for the collection and analysis of information on marine mammals that occur in the State's waters and interact with State managed fisheries and other marine resources. Information collected is used by the State and Federal governments to conserve marine mammals, address or resolve conflicts between marine mammals, fisheries and living marine resources, and to improve their understanding of the health of individual marine mammals as well as marine mammal populations. Discretionary funds may be announced in the Federal Register under competitive programs to undertake research in subjects which are relevant to the protection and conservation of marine mammals.

ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. BUSINESS AND COMMERCE;
- Maritime;
- Special Technical Service;

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- State;

WHO CAN APPLY:
- State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Quasi-public non-profit institution/organization;