Northeast Consortium Project Description

The Northeast Consortium consists of four research institutions (University of New Hampshire, University of Maine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) which are working together to foster this initiative. Each institution has designated an individual who serves as a representative to the Consortium. The representatives administer the Northeast Consortium funds, interface with all stakeholders, and are responsible for funding decisions. A ~30-member Advisory Committee provides programmatic advice and guidance and makes recommendations regarding the selection of projects to the representatives of the Northeast Consortium.

The Northeast Consortium expects to receive $5M for FY2001 to fund cooperative research projects and $2.9M to fund right whale research. The funding is anticipated to be appropriated to the National Marine Fisheries Service and to be administered by the University of New Hampshire on behalf of the Northeast Consortium. Northeast Consortium funds are distributed via an open competition, which is announced via this Request for Proposals (RFP). The initial step in application for the funds is a Planning Letter, which will be evaluated for technical merit, relevance, likelihood of success, and suitability for funding under this competition. The balance of funding for cooperative research activities will be 25% to research and 75% to industry (across all awards). For right whale research projects, industry participation is encouraged, but not required.

Goals of the Northeast Consortium

• To develop partnerships between commercial fishermen and researchers, educators, and coastal managers.
• To enable commercial fishermen and commercial fishing vessels to participate in cooperative research and development of selective gear technologies.
• To help bring fishermen's information, experience, and expertise into the scientific framework needed for fisheries management.
• To equip and utilize commercial fishing vessels as research and monitoring platforms.

Priority areas for Northeast Consortium funding Cooperative Research Projects

Selective gear research and development. Cooperative research leading to the development of selective fishing gear to reduce or eliminate technical barriers to trade, minimize harvest losses, reduce bycatch, and improve fishing practices.

Monitoring of closed areas. Regular and long-term assessment of environmental condition, bio-diversity, oceanographic processes, and fisheries recruitment in areas closed to fishing. Consideration of the historical character of these regions (based on knowledge of commercial fishermen) in formulating hypotheses, designing and implementing the field studies. Analysis of the impacts of area closures. Changes to the landscape and the biota.

Fish habitat studies. Inclusion of industry-based information for Essential Fish Habitat designations. Improved accuracy and reliability of the underlying information. Design of new and more effective management strategies.

Oceanographic and meteorological monitoring. Better information on weather, sea-state, and oceanographic conditions, commercial harvest data, and fishing conditions in the coastal waters of the US. Synoptic coverage of large regions, use of satellite telemetry. Use of commercial fishing vessels as platforms for coastal monitoring, modeling, and prediction.

Representatives of the Northeast Consortium

Northeast Consortium outreach coordinator: