The FY 1999 Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Grant Program was concluded in December 1998. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) received 190 proposals requesting approximately $23.4 million in response to the FY 1999 solicitation for S-K grant applications. Twenty-eight proposals have been recommended for funding at a total of about $3.07 million. The amounts indicated for projects may change as a result of negotiations with the Department of Commerce.

The Administration has requested reportedly about $1.5 million for this program for FY 2000 and a solicitation for proposals for FY 2000 funds is anticipated later this year. The following is a listing of only aquaculture-related proposals that were recommended for funding for FY 1999. More details on all proposals listed for funding, including proposals recommended for funding in FY 1998 can be found at the S-K home page at: www.nmfs.gov/sfweb/skhome.html

Listing of Aquaculture-Related Applications Recommended for FY 1999 Funding

Influence of Host Genetic Origin and Geographic Location on QPX Disease in Hard Clams, Mercenaria mercenaria - Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, VA, $212,998

Aquaculture Regulation: Economic and Legal Models for the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, $92,935

Manila Clam Mortality and Health Evaluation - Pacific Shellfish Institute, Olympia, WA, $168,111

Sampling and Evaluation of White Spot and IHHN Virus in Commercially Important South Atlantic Penaeid Shrimp Stocks - S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Charleston, SC, $136,931

** Reduction in the V. vulnificus Load in Oysters by a Novel Short-Term Combination Biodepuration Treatment - Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, $173,111

** Flounder Sex Determination: Biotechnology for Controlled Breeding in Fishery Enhancement and Mariculture -North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, $68,465

Restoration of the White Abalone in Southern California: Population Assessment, Brood Stock Collection, and Development of Husbandry Technology

- University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, $244,806

Life History of an Exotic Sabellid Polychaete Pest in Cultured Abalone in California - University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, $112,064

Please note a correction in institutions associated with two S-K grant awards noted by a double asterisk (**). Is this a sign of deterioration associated with aging !