John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant

Background
NOAA NMFS' Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) is directed under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to facilitate collecting and disseminating reference data on stranded marine mammals and the health trends of marine mammal populations in the wild. The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program is administered by NOAA to provide Federal assistance to eligible members of the National Marine Mammal Stranding Network and collaborators. The program aims to provide for: (A) the recovery, care, or treatment of sick, injured, or entangled marine mammals; (B) responses to marine mammal stranding events that require emergency assistance; (C) the collection of data and samples from living or dead stranded marine mammals for scientific research or assessments regarding marine mammal health; (D) facility operating costs that are directly related to activities described in (A), (B), or (C); and (E) development of stranding network capacity, including training for emergency response, where facilities do not exist or are sparse.

Grant Details
The John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program provides federal assistance for tasks such as recovery, care, or treatment of sick, injured, or entangled marine mammals; responses to marine mammal stranding events requiring emergency assistance; collection of data and samples from living or dead stranded marine mammals for scientific research or assessments regarding marine mammal health; facility operating costs directly related to these activities; and development of stranding network capacity including training for emergency response where facilities are lacking. The program also aims to improve rescue, care, and treatment of stranded or entangled marine mammals; reduce health risks to animals, humans, and the ocean environment during response to distressed animals; collect life history, biological, and biomedical data from living and dead stranded or entangled marine mammals; develop baseline reference data on the health of wild marine mammal populations; improve rapid detection of morbidity and mortality events; collect samples for archival and retrospective studies on causes of mortality or illness; refine comprehensive guidance for rescue and rehabilitation of stranded or entangled marine mammals; and broaden participation in marine mammal conservation.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include members of the National Marine Mammal Stranding Network and collaborators who are authorized to conduct stranding network activities through a Stranding Agreement (SA), official designee status under a SA granted by the applicable NMFS Region, as a federal, state, or local government employee under Section 109(h) of the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1379(h)), holders of researcher authorization letters issued by a NMFS Regional Administrator, Principal Investigators or Co-Investigators of an MMPA(/ESA if applicable) scientific research permit.

Grant Value
The total value of the grant is not explicitly provided in the document.