Technical Writing

Oyster, Shorebird and Turtle Habitat Program

1. Introduction

1.1 The Oyster, Shorebird and Turtle Habitat Request For Proposal holds a great purpose as well as benefit for not just political or business gain. It holds purpose for the benefit of all of mankind to have continued renewable food sources and wildlife that is critical for the eco-systems and regions they are found in.

1.2 According to the Oyster, Shorebird and Turtle Habitat Request ForProposal document it is a “partnership between Sweetheart Oil Company and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). The purpose of the partnership is to support conservation and restoration activities that result in measurable benefits to key species and their habitats along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.”Conservation is important for human survival as well as wildlife. Programs such as these benefit not only the animals in question, but the earth and eco systems as well.

2. Executive Summary

2.1 The goals of this project are to support conservation and restoration activities for animal habitats of Oysters, Shorebirds, and Turtles.The project supports conservation of wildlife habitats noted in the program. It will increase populations of native Eastern Oysters through restoration activities and sustainable management of oyster fishery. These areas are sought to be protected from harvest. The conduction of oyster restoration projects will serve as “living shorelines” to both, enhance oyster populations and protect nearby coastal eco-stems found on the shorelines. This project also hopes to improve the cost-effectiveness of oyster restoration. By improving these habitats we can decrease the contamination of food sources such as oysters.

2.2 Incentives for companies that participate include funding as well as bonus funding for those that qualify when projects benefit wetlands and other related eco-systems. Up to $700,000 is made available for projects along the Gulf of Mexico coast including: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida for a Geographical Focus Fund. An additional amount of funds of up to $900,000 is available for projects that will benefit wetland, marine and coastal restoration projects. Eligible applicants must be Government Agencies, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions.

2.3 The hopes of this program are to inspire projects by multiple agencies and companies to promote the conservation of the habitats covered by this program. Sea Turtles, Oysters and Shorebirds are important to ecosystems as well as those who utilize oysters as a food source. Without this program it will not only affect the loss of wildlife and their habitats but those who depend upon them as resources for food.

3. Description of Project Narrative

3.1 The low abundancies of oysters on the East Coast have created a demand for the West Coast to produce more oysters to have shipped. This in turn has created problems for the West Coast oyster farms where a harvest of oysters from the West Coast were found to have been contaminated with the norovirus. Raw shucked oysters eaten have made people sick and have since been recalled (News Desk 2016). This can be prevented in future harvests through proper preservation attempts to expand oyster beds and create new habitats for them.

3.2 Six out of the seven species of sea turtles are threatened (SeaTurtles.ORG 2016). Their habitats have been threatened by our fishing boats. Sea turtles often drown when caught in fishing nets used to catch fish to feed our growing population. Coastal development has threatened their natural habitats. By putting laws into effect and projects that will expand protected habitats for conservation efforts we can hope to save and repopulate these threatened species of sea turtles.

3.3 Shorebirds are also threatened. Birds such as the Red Knot are being monitored closely for protection efforts that are being put into place (New Jersey Audubun 2014). Because of their drastic decline in population the Red Knot has been put on the endangered species list and falls under the endangered species act. They utilize the shores of Delaware for migration.

3.4 Our approach to this proposal is not lightly taken. Delicate measures need to be taken when preserving a wildlife habitat to prevent contaminants or other problems that may hinder these projects. Providing funding to companies and agencies that are willing to take on preservation projects is one way we hope to get this plan in motion. The other motivational incentives for taking on preservation projects under this program benefit the companies and agencies as humanitarians and preservationists.

3.5 Companies and agencies can utilize the funding available to create jobs that complete these restoration projects which will also aid in providing more resources for the locals who rely on oysters as a primary food source. These jobs will raise the local income levels and allow stores to import more food resources which will aid in the restoration project by limiting how many oysters are needed to be harvested to feed the locals.

3.6 Alternate food sources now made affordable through the creation of jobs will aid in the health of locals as well when oysters become a contaminated food source. Oysters are commonly linked to the norovirus outbreaks due to raw shucked oysters being eaten without first being cooked.

3.7 The expansion of clean habitats that are properly cared for and not overly farmed or harvested will aid in preventing any contaminated food from reaching the public. Oysters are not only a food source for locals but an export that generates most of the revenue for many of the coastal towns found on the East Coast.

3.8 Companies and agencies can hope to expand their legacies as well as benefit in multiple ways dependent upon the direction taken for their planned involvements of this program. Such projects are often considered non-profit and tax deductible opportunities. With proper planning companies could expand and take part in oyster farming habitats that will generate revenue as well as expand food sources for locals.

4. Deliverables

4.1 The Deliverables include the cleaning and restoration projects benefiting the wildlife in question in order to conserve current habitats as well as create new ones to help preserve and grow the populations of the species. There is funding to aid organizations that want to participate as well as bonus funding for those that meet the qualification criteria.

4.2 The legacy of each participant will be historically noted as preservationists and humanitarians. Business expansion possibilities are only limited to the planning and imaginations of the agencies and companies that participate. The long term outcome is more than just a monetary gain for opportunists. It is the responsibility of those who are able to preserve wildlife habitats that not only affect the wildlife found in the habitats but the people that depend on them for survival.

5. Qualifications

5.1 The Qualifications for organizations wanting to participate are the creation of such projects related to these are what qualifies the companies participating in these pojects to receive funding for the projects and other criteria if met will qualify companies of receiving bonus funds for projects as an incentive.

5.2 Projects funded by this program are under the control of the agency or organization that has organized plan. Projects that prevent shoreline development and increases habitat awareness and preservations quantify funding and possible bonus funding to be used towards the projects in question.

6. Citations

6.1 Oyster, Shorebird and Turtle Habitat Program Request For Proposal. Technical paper no. RFP. National Wildlife Foundation. 1-5.

6.2 "Oregon Oysters Linked to Norovirus Outbreak Sent to East Coast | Food Safety News." Food Safety News. 2016. Accessed August 06, 2016. http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2016/02/oregon-oysters-linked-to-norovirus-outbreak-sent-to-east-coast/#.V6VcK9IrI1g.

6.3 "Sea Turtle Facts." SEE Turtles. Accessed August 06, 2016. http://www.seeturtles.org/sea-turtle-facts.

6.4 Stiles, Eric, and David Mizrahi. "Shorebird Species Listed as Threatened." New Jersey Audubon.