**National Marine Fisheries Service**

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="1.9548611111111112in"
height="1.5354166666666667in"}**The National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) requests \$796.0M in FY 2008, reflecting a net increase of
\$59.1M from the FY 2007 President's Budget, which is a decrease of
\$7.9M from the FY 2006 enacted level. This budget request supports the
funding and program requirements necessary to address established NOAA
strategic goals and sets NMFS on a path to achieve its vision: that the
American people enjoy the resources and benefits of healthy and diverse
marine ecosystems.**

**FY 2008 Program Change Highlights**

**Protected Species Research & Management +\$3.9M:** NMFS will assess
acoustic impacts on protected species due to proposed activities related
to defense readiness and energy exploration. The increase will
facilitate better informed determinations in authorizing these
activities (through permits and consultations) under the Endangered
Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The request also
supports research on critically endangered right whales to reduce risks
posed by collisions with ships and entanglement with fishing gear and
will enable NOAA to implement Klamath River salmon recovery projects.

**Fisheries Research and Management Programs +\$17.5M:** NMFS will begin
to address the new and expanded requirements under the Magnuson --
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006.
In addition, NMFS will make greater use of market-based systems for
fisheries management by establishing Limited Access Privilege Programs
(LAPPs) programs to reduce overcapacity and end the "race for fish." The
funding will allow NMFS to double the number of LAPPs in use by FY 2010.
NMFS will also improve forecasting of marine ecosystem responses to
various management strategies---one of the near-term priorities of the
Ocean Research Priorities Plan.

**Survey and Monitoring Projects +\$1.7M:** These funds will improve
NMFS' ability to administer two research and monitoring programs in
Alaska. NOAA will continue to collaborate with entities in Alaska to
conduct crustacean (crab) research and monitoring.

**Observers +\$3.0M:** NMFS will apply the requested increase to the
Northeast Groundfish Court-Ordered Observer Program line item to meet
regulatory requirements for managing the New England groundfish and
Atlantic sea scallop fisheries.

**Habitat Restoration +\$10.0M:** NOAA will help purchase three
hydropower dams on the Penobscot River. The two most seaward dams will
be removed, and fish bypass will be created at the third dam. The
funding will provide for improved fish passage at four other dams in the
watershed. This project will rebuild the Penobscot River's once abundant
historic fishery, which includes 11 migratory fish species, such as
Atlantic salmon and American shad, and will reopen fish access to nearly
1,000 miles of habitat while maintaining hydropower production.

**Antarctic Research +\$0.6M:** These funds enable NMFS' Antarctic
Marine Living Resources Program to develop an International Polar Year
research program and collect biological and oceanographic information
for one of the longest running data streams on the Antarctic marine
ecosystem.

**Aquaculture +\$3.0M:** NMFS will develop a regulatory program for
marine aquaculture in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone called for in the
Administration's offshore aquaculture legislative proposal.

**NMFS Facilities Operations and Maintenance +\$2.0M:** This request
will allow NMFS to cover operation and maintenance costs for the NMFS
Alaska Fisheries Science Center's new Ted Stevens Marine Research
Institute (Lena Point Facility).

**La Jolla Temporary Relocation +\$1.0M:** NMFS will use the increase to
provide temporary leased space for personnel working in the Southwest
Fisheries Science Center until construction of new facilities is
completed. NMFS has safety concerns with this facility due to its
proximity to an eroding bluff abutting the Pacific Ocean.

**Other Projects +\$5.0M:** This request provides sufficient funding to
address the Pacific Islands Region and Science Center administrative and
programmatic responsibilities and provides the resources needed to
fulfill their goals in fishery management, protected species and habitat
conservation, financial and operational management, and public outreach.

**For more information, contact the NOAA Budget Office: (202) 482-4600
-- or -- AskNOAABudget@noaa.gov**