May 13, 2015 — The Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association expects to hear in June whether NOAA will fund any of its three Saltonstall-Kennedy grant proposals that deal with elements of seafood culinary education, fishery sustainability and the expanded use of underutilized seafood species.
Jennifer Goebel, a NOAA spokeswoman, confirmed Wednesday the agency has informed applicants the grant application process has advanced to the final review stage and decisions on funding could come within the next month.
“We’re really trying to remain hopeful because we can do so much if we get these grants,” said Donna Marshall, director of Cape Ann Fresh Catch, which helped write the grant applications under the auspices of the GFWA. “It would really give us a great jump start and these are all projects we really believe in.”
The three GFWA grant applications seek a total of about $305,000 for several separate projects:
• About $120,000 to lease waterfront space for a kitchen dedicated to instructing institutional food service providers — such as schools and hospitals — how to cook fresh seafood. The facility also would serve as a site for monthly celebrity-chef demonstrations, drawing on local and regional culinary talents. “We envision this as a real community-based asset, where other nonprofits could utilize the space as well,” Marshall said.
• Approximately $70,000 to expand an existing program throughout Massachusetts and other parts of New England to show high school-aged students the benefits of fishery sustainability and healthier seafood choices, particularly those incorporating underutilized species. “This would help them see what sustainability really means and what they should be ordering or looking for when they’re purchasing seafood,” Marshall said.
Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times