NA24OARX417C0149

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 Louisiana Sea Grant Program lays out its plan to implement the goals laid out in in their FY2024-27 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 2028 or 2029.

Activities to be performed: Each university-based Sea Grant program contributes to the national focus areas and goals, and the Louisiana 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:
- Improved coordination of Louisiana coastal and river watershed research to fill information gaps needed for decision-making;
- Collaborations with partners and stakeholders support planning, research and technological solutions to address ecosystem resource management needs as a human enterprise;
- Coastal residents that have resources available to better understand the scientific and socio-economic process related to climate adaptation;
- Decision-makers that have access to information that clarifies the linkages and feedbacks between the natural and human components to evaluate long-term coastal resilience;
- Communities that have access to science, tools and technologies to protect and sustain water resources and make informed decisions;
- Undergraduate and graduate students, particularly those from under-represented groups, that are supported and have access to formal and experiential learning, training, research and community engagement experiences related to understanding Louisiana's coastal issues; and,
- Expanded and diversified employment in Louisiana's coastal resource enterprise.

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

Subrecipient activities: The recipient plans to competitively subaward funds to principal investigators throughout the state of Louisiana 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.

Louisiana State University

TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF MAJOR UNIVERSITY CENTERS FOR MARINE RESOURCES RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING AND TO SUPPORT MARINE ADVISORY SERVICES. SOME INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS IN THESE SAME AREAS ALSO RECEIVE FUNDING.

11.417 - Sea Grant Support

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) [DOC]

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 708030001 United States

Single Zip Code

NOAA-OAR-SG-2024-23187

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 86% from $2,742,882 to $5,103,435.