NA22OAR4170092

Purpose: The National Sea Grant College Program was established by the U.S. Congress in 1966 (amended in 2008, Public Law 110-394) to be a highly leveraged federal and state partnership to harness the intellectual capacity of the nation's universities and research institutions to solve problems and generate opportunities in coastal communities. For over 50 years, the National Sea Grant College Program has supported coastal and Great Lakes communities through research, extension, and education. Sea Grant's mission is to enhance the practical use and conservation of coastal, marine, and Great Lakes resources in order to create a sustainable economy and environment. This grant is the vehicle through which the Texas Sea Grant Program lays out its plan to implement the goals laid out in their FY2018-23 strategic plan, which can be found at: https://seagrant.noaa.gov/insideseagrant/planning.

In addition to required grant progress reporting, the recipient will report defined measures and metrics as well as success stories annually and will be evaluated on performance during a site review expected in 2024 or 2025.

Activities to be performed: Each university-based Sea Grant program contributes to the national focus areas and goals, and the Texas Sea Grant Program is no different, aligning their focus areas with the National Sea Grant Strategic Plan's focus areas of: healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies, and environmental literacy and workforce development. Activities within each of these focus areas include research, extension, and educational projects that aim to further the National Sea Grant College Program's stated mission.

Expected outcomes: NOAA provides funding to Sea Grant institutions to increase the understanding, assessment, development, management, utilization, and conservation of the nation's ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. These important efforts promote a strong educational base, responsive research and training activities, broad and prompt dissemination of knowledge and techniques, and multidisciplinary approaches to environmental problems, in accordance with 33 U.S.C. 1121(B). Specific outcomes identified by the recipient include, but are not limited to:

- Coastal residents and decision-makers have access to, gain a scientific understanding of, and utilize tools and methods for informed decision-making and planning that promotes socioeconomic and built environment resilience.
- Coastal residents and decision-makers adopt and implement best practices for coastal hazard mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
- Coastal residents and decision-makers gain a scientific understanding from technical assistance and use of tools for water resource and stormwater management.
- Younger generations are informed about and participate in commercial fisheries business operations as a result of workforce development and fishermen training programs.
- Industry is informed about new forms of aquaculture (including offshore aquaculture) in a sustainable and profitable manner.
- Coastal habitats are restored, enhanced, and/or protected.

Intended beneficiaries: Residents, stakeholders, and decision-makers of the state of Texas as well as throughout the Gulf region.

Subrecipient activities: The recipient plans to competitively subaward funds to principal investigators throughout the state of Texas who successfully competed for funding following the National Sea Grant College Program's competition policy. Additionally, funding may be subawarded for extension or education work.

Texas A & M University

18 CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION 19 WEATHER-READY NATION 20 HEALTHY OCEANS 21 RESILIENT COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES

11.417 - Sea Grant Support

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) [DOC]

College Station, Texas 778454375 United States

Single Zip Code

NOAA-OAR-SG-2022-2006727

Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 01/31/24 to 01/31/26 and the total obligations have increased 451% from $1,307,825 to $7,209,302.