Stony Brook, NY - August 4, 2017 - Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) announced today that Stony Brook University has received a $169,758 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support marine science and fisheries research. This funding will be used to improve marine management of protected species of fish and marine mammals within the Northeast United States Large Marine Ecosystem (NEUS LME).
Congressman Zeldin said, “Stony Brook University is a world leader in groundbreaking scientific research, and I am pleased to announce that this funding has been awarded to support their amazing work. This $169,758 grant will be used to improve decision making pertaining to the management of fish and aquatic wildlife. Fishing is incredibly important to our life, culture, and economy here on Long Island, and as part of this community we must do all we can to support this historic tradition. As the Representative of the First Congressional District, which is almost entirely surrounded by water, I am proud to advocate for grant funding such as this to support our local science community and advance these important causes. We must do more to safeguard the natural resources underneath us and around us on Long Island.”
"These funds will use state-of-the-art climate models to develop several tools to assist fishers in reducing bycatch of marine mammals and fish in longline and midwater trawl fisheries, which will increase the efficiency and profitability of our valuable marine resources," said Dr. Lesley Thorne, Assistant Professor at Stony Brook University.
Established in 1970, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) studies climate, weather, oceans, and coasts to support economic vitality and provides planners and emergency managers with resources and information. This past May, Congressman Zeldin voted to fund the NOAA at $3.37 billion, an increase of $62 million from the previous year (H.R. 244, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017).