Monday, May 05, 2003

WILMINGTON, N.C. – Congressman Mike McIntyre (D-NC, 7th District) today presented the University of North Carolina at Wilmington $860,000 in federal funding to benefit its mariculture research and to launch a pilot program on natural disaster mitigation. The appropriation, greatly assisted by the efforts of Rep. McIntyre, is part of the Omnibus appropriations for fiscal year 2003.

UNCW’s mariculture program, now in its fifth year, received $360,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is at the forefront of cutting-edge research toward the production of farm-raised saltwater fish. The program researches the growth rate and survivability of marine species such as Summer and Southern flounder and Black seabass.

"We appreciate Congressman McIntyre’s efforts to continue funding for our mariculture program,” said Dr. Wade Watanabe, research professor and UNCW aquaculture program coordinator. “Wild stocks of flounder and seabass are on the decline. Providing high quality seafood to the nation will require the development of commercial farming operations.”

Rep. McIntyre agreed stating that the funding “will provide the knowledge to develop new opportunities and to help create jobs for commercial fishers and farmers in the next few years.”

The Omnibus bill also provided $500,000 to create a pilot program to help universities protect their students, infrastructure and research facilities from natural disasters such as flooding, hurricanes and earthquakes. UNCW is one of six institutions that will receive funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to participate in the Disaster Resistant University Program.

Each institution will use the appropriation to access its vulnerabilities to a natural disaster. During the next year, institutions must demonstrate to Congress and FEMA ways to reduce losses through mitigation and preparation. UNCW’s selection was a result of its vulnerability to hurricanes and coastal storms.

"UNCW is an important economic force in southeastern North Carolina,” said Rep. McIntyre. “The funds provided by this bill will not only protect the interests of the institution, but the entire community.”

For more information, contact Dr. Wade Watanabe at 910/256-3721 ext 245 or Mrs. Sharon Boyd, principal investigator for the FEMA grant, 910/962-3772.