• Fishing grants are beneficial to pros and amateurs alike.Dry fish on a dish in the form of a fish image by terex from Fotolia.com
  
  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2008 more than 35,000 fishermen were employed in the United States. As well as the multitude of professional fishermen, there are millions of people who fish as a hobby. Fishing grants provide the resources and funding needed to educate fishermen, provide disaster-relief funds and keep fishing waters clean.
  
  

Future Fisherman Grants

• The Future Fisherman Foundation, along with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, offers grants to teachers who wish to create educational boating and fishing programs. Certified teachers in private, public and charter schools are eligible to apply. After winning the grant, the school sends a teacher to a five-day training workshop to learn skills related to fishing, including angling, fly-fishing, aquatic conservation and the purchasing and maintenance of fishing equipment. Travel and food costs are included in the grant award. The purpose of this workshop is to provide schools with the skills and resources needed to create a fishing and boating curriculum. Grants can be awarded up to $2,500. Interested applicants should contact the Future Fisherman Foundation at futurefisherman@asafishing.org.
  
  Future Fisherman Foundation
  
  P.O. Box 6049
  
  McLean, VA 22106
  
  www.futurefisherman.org
  
  

Clean Vessel Act Grants

• The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service offers Clean Vessel Act grants to keep bodies of water clean and free of waste. These grants promote the construction, maintenance and improvement of sewage systems, sewage pump-out facilities and educational programs about the importance of proper waste disposal. The purpose of the grant is to keep waterways clean for public use, such as recreational boating and fishing. Individual states and territories are eligible to apply for grant money, which can then be distributed among regional marinas, recreational boaters and the general public. The recipients of the grant money must provide protection of areas affected by sewage problems, and any construction or renovation should benefit the public. Applicants must submit an application and grant proposal, with an estimated budget, to the Fish & Wildlife Service. The application forms and detailed instructions can be found at wsfrprograms.fws.gov.
  
  U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
  
  4401 North Fairfax Drive FA-4020
  
  Arlington, VA 22203
  
  703-358-2156
  
  www.fws.gov
  
  

Fisheries Disaster Relief Grants

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) gives out Fisheries Disaster Relief grants to provide relief to commercial fisheries undergoing failure because of a disaster. Disasters can be either natural, man-made or undetermined. Grant money can be used to assess the amount of damage caused by the fishery disaster, assisting the fishing communities affected by the disaster, restoring fisheries and preventing future fishery disasters. Eligible applicants include state government agencies that provide programs and assistance to the fishing community, including owners of fishing vessels. Grant applications can be found at www.noaa.gov.
  
  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  
  1315 East-West Highway
  
  Silver Spring, MD 20910
  
  301-713-2358
  
  Stephen.Aguzin@noaa.gov