PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
Projects provide economic, sociological, public policy, and other information needed by Federal and State natural resource administrators for conserving and managing fishery resources and protected species and their environment in Federal, State, and U.S. territorial waters. Information derived from project studies may consist of econometric date, user profiles, sociological case studies, policy and systems analyses, and other knowledge, and is used in such decisions as resource allocations, total and zonal harvest determinations, and initial apportionment of harvesting rights under controlled access management regimes. Primary users of project information include the National Marine Fisheries Service, Regional Fishery Management Councils, Interstate Marine Fisheries Commissions, State, and other Federal resource management agencies.

ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. NATURAL RESOURCES;
- Wildlife Research and Preservation;
2. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY;
- Research - Specialized;

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- Federal;
- Interstate;
- State;
- Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments;
- Private non-profit institution/organization;
- Other private institution/organization;
- Anyone/general public;

WHO CAN APPLY:
- State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Local (includes State-designated Indian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Federally Recognized Indian Tribal Governments;
- U.S. Territories and possessions (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Individual/Family;
- Private non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Other private institutions/organizations;