The mission of the National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) is to develop technological solutions and investigate changes in fishing practices designed to minimize bycatch of fish (including sponges, deepsea corals, and shallow (tropical) corals) and protected species (including marine
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mammals, sturgeon, seabirds, and sea turtles) as well as minimize bycatch injury and mortality (including post-release injury and mortality).
For FY2014, NMFS anticipates that approximately $2,500,000 could be made available for projects that address by-catch research as identified in the Program Priority Section (I.B.1 - I.B.3).