ICRI Small Grants Scheme

An innovative and important element of the UK/Seychelles Secretariat is the funding of three small-scale coral reef projects (each costing about £15,000 GBP). The objective is to provide tangible, quick-win outcomes in line with ICRI’s Framework for Action. This calls for integrated management of coral reefs, capacity building, research, monitoring and review.

The Secretariat asked ICRI’s operational networks to invite their members to identify and submit outline proposals for projects that might be funded by the small grants scheme. Eleven proposals were received. After careful consideration, it was decided that the six projects with the greatest potential to deliver the objectives of the small grants scheme were:

1. Monitoring of Portland Blight Protected Area (Caribbean Coastal Data Centre, Jamaica)
   project description;
2. Support for Pulau Pasoso Marine Protected Area (Yayasan Adi Citrta Lestarti, Indonesia)
   project description;
3. Setting up of Marine Protected Areas close to Urban Areas (Coastal Dynamics Foundation, Philippines)
   project description;
4. Improved Site Based Coral Reef Management in South Asia (SACEP, South Asia)
   project description;
5. Site Exchange with St Lucia Marine Management Area (Bonaire Marine Park, St Lucia)
   project description; and
6. Blast Fishing Detection and Monitoring (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Philippines)
   project description.

Project sponsors who were in TCI had the opportunity to make a short presentation supporting their proposal. Sponsors who were unable to make the CPC meeting were welcome to ask a colleague to speak on their behalf. The three projects to fund (decided by the meeting) are:

• Monitoring of Portland Blight Protected Area (Caribbean Coastal Data Centre, Jamaica)
• Setting up of Marine Protected Areas close to Urban Areas (Coastal Dynamics Foundation, Philippines)
• Site Exchange with St Lucia Marine Management Area (Bonaire Marine Park, St Lucia)