NFWF Announces Coral Reef Conservation Fund 2016 Grants

Washington, D.C., (November 3, 2016) - The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced the recipients of the Coral Reef Conservation Fund 2016 awards. These projects will address the rapid declines seen in coral health globally. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently declared that 2014 to 2016 marked the longest global bleaching event for coral reefs. Reducing human caused stressors such as overfishing and land-based runoff can help coral reefs recover from these climatic stressors.

The projects announced today will promote coral conservation by reducing land-based sources of pollution, advancing coral reef fisheries management, and improving watershed management planning for domestic coral reefs. Project locations range from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea and all seek to increase the local on-the-ground capacity for long-term coral reef conservation.

Since 2000, NFWF has responded to the alarming decline in both the quantity and productivity of the world’s coral reef ecosystems through multiple coral conservation initiatives that aim to improve management, increase public awareness, and reduce threats to coral reefs both domestically and internationally.

“The threats facing coral reefs are significant and the projects funded through the Coral Reef Conservation Fund will make a difference,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO, NFWF. “We are proud to work with our long-time partner NOAA on these critical efforts to recover and conserve an irreplaceable natural resource.”

The 18 grants announced today total $1.15 million, and will be matched by more than $1.25 million in additional support from the grantees. The Coral Reef Conservation Fund is primarily supported by NOAA.

“Corals are a vitally important component of the coastal ecosystem and NOAA is pleased to partner once again with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in supporting efforts to reduce threats to corals through the promotion of improved local watershed and fishing management,” said Russell Callender, Ph.D., NOAA assistant administrator of the National Ocean Service.

The Coral Reef Conservation Fund was created to assist NOAA in implementing the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, and is managed by NFWF in partnership with the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. To date, the Foundation has awarded close to $16 million in federal and non-federal funds and leveraged over $21 million in matching funds for more than 300 coral conservation projects in seven U.S. states and territories and 36 countries.

2016 Coral Fund grant recipients. For more detailed information on each of the projects, please click here.

About National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources.

About National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Chartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal, corporate and individual partners, NFWF has funded more than 4,500 organizations and committed more than $3.5 billion to conservation projects. Learn more at www.nfwf.org.