Habitat Focus area has 10 grants totaling $743,277. They are:

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Science, Investigating Salinity Fluxes    on Natural and Restored Habitat Bottom – $111,988
  Multi-year grant to study salinity regimes to inform managers on best locations for habitat enhancement projects including artificial fishing reefs and oyster sanctuary reefs.
   
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Science, FerryMon: N.C. Department of Transportation Based Automated Monitoring – $143,742
  Multi-year grant to continue the long-term, continuous water quality monitoring in the Pamlico Sound.
   
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Science, Comparing the Use of Nominated Strategic Habitat Areas and Non-Strategic Habitat Areas Coastal Marsh Habitats – $97,368
  Multi-year grant to examine fish use in western Pamlico Sound wetlands dominated by wind-driven tides and the link between fish productivity and habitat condition. It will verify the condition of some Strategic Habitat Areas in the region.
   
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Science, Incorporating Stakeholder Knowledge of the Status and Value of Coastal Habitats – $30,365
  Multi-year grant to use a series of socioeconomic surveys of North Carolina residents to collect ecologically relevant data on the perceived health of and threats to coastal habitats and fisheries.
   
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Science, Trends in Fish Utilization of Low versus High Relief – $96,324
  Multi-year grant to investigate fish utilization of artificial structures both near shore and offshore and evaluate the benefit of relief off the bottom of these structures.
   
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Science, “There’s Something Fishy about Salt Marsh, Oyster Reef, and Seagrass Habitat.” – $50,121
  Multi-year grant to target habitat education strategies that are important to improve the public’s understanding of the fish habitat relationship and foster environmental stewardship.
   
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Science, Development of a Comprehensive Salinity Database – $72,415
  Multi-year grant to develop a salinity database for North Carolina with sufficiently high spatial and temporal resolution to simultaneously examine salinity effects on critical fish habitat.
   
• N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ Oyster Shell Recycling Program (Phase 2) – $32,000
  One year grant to continue collection of discarded oyster shells and provide public awareness of the program while soliciting more partnerships.
   
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Science, Program’s Effects of Landscape Setting on the Function of Seagrass Meadows – $105,754
  Multi-year grant to examine how differing habitat landscape settings and seasonal changes in submerged aquatic vegetation affects fish use, fish health due to diet and competition among species.
   
• N.C. Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program H-020 Promoting Responsible Boating Practice and Awareness of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation – $3,200
  One year grant to develop and post boating signs at boat ramps throughout coastal North Carolina to educate and encourage responsible boating while protecting submerged aquatic vegetation in estuarine waters.

For more information on these grants or the Coastal Recreational Fishing License grant program, contact Tiffany Frazier, Coastal Recreational Fishing License grants coordinator, at 252-808-8004 or Tiffany.Frazier@ncdenr.gov.

nr-01-13