Category

Current Projects

MRAG part of team recently awarded the USAID Water and Development IDIQ

By | Current Projects, Featured Projects, Project

USAID has selected ECODIT as one of six firms recently awarded the Water and Development IDIQ (WADI), a framework contract with a combined ceiling of $1 billion over five years. MRAG Americas joined the ECODIT team to provide capability for activities regarding fishery science and management. WADI serves as the central contracting mechanism in support of the Agency’s Water and Development Strategy, providing USAID offices and missions with access to a wide range of services to support sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) for improved health, and to advance water resource management for enhanced food security.

WADI encompasses several cross-cutting services that can be applied to a combination of technical interventions related to water and sanitation under the following broad categories: water resources management; WASH; agriculture and food security; coastal management; environment; economic growth and energy; democracy and governance; innovation, research and monitoring and evaluation (M&E); knowledge management (KM), cooperation and coordination; and engineering services and commodity / equipment procurement and installation. Task Orders (TOs) predominantly in the M&E and KM service areas are reserved for small business IDIQ holders like ECODIT, while any TOs less than $3 million will be first competed among the small businesses. USAID may also directly place TOs with a small business to provide the services set aside for small businesses, or if other fair opportunity exceptions apply.

MRAG Americas to Conduct Ongoing Third Party Review of ISSF ProActive Vessel Register

By | Current Projects, Featured Projects

The ISSF ProActive Vessel Register (PVR) is an innovative and effective way for vessel owners to highlight meaningful sustainability efforts. The database verifies the positive steps vessels take in order to improve responsible practices in tuna fishing.

MRAG Americas Inc. will serve as independent auditor of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation’s (ISSF) ProActive Vessel Register (PVR), a newly launched database that is designed to help identify vessels adopting best-in-class, responsible tuna fishing practices.

The PVR will identify which of more than 25 ISSF Commitments each vessel has adopted, including implementing strategies to increase supply chain transparency, providing complete catch data to management bodies and continuing education in best practices that reduce fishing’s impact on the greater marine environment. MRAG will monitor vessels on the PVR for compliance by performing on-site reviews and audits, as well as conducting regular reviews of public documents and databases. This validation process also includes real-time data submitted via iPads and other mobile applications. Auditors will receive notification when vessels keep a specific commitment, such as when a skipper completes training or submits data to the scientific bodies of a Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO).

Measuring the Effects of Catch Shares

By | Current Projects, Featured Projects

Client: Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

MECs-Logo

 

 

 

Project Overview: The Measuring the Effects of Catch Shares project provides objective, scientifically sound information to answer key questions about effects of two U.S. catch share programs on fishermen, fish stocks, fishing businesses, and fishing communities. The five-year project uses a collaborative approach involving the private sector, university scientists, and government agencies. The project team gathers and rigorously analyzes the best available data on economic, social, ecological, and administrative conditions and trends, comparing years before and during the catch share programs.

Beginning in spring 2013 and continuing regularly thereafter, we will report data for a range of indicators that will be useful to anyone with an interest in these catch share programs. The Measuring the Effects of Catch Shares project does not advocate for or against catch shares. Instead, it provides reliable, neutral information on trends and effects that people can use to answer their own questions or inform their own decisions about catch shares.

Project Team: MRAG Americas is working with a group of experts from academic institutions and private organizations. This team was selected through an open call for letters of interest based on their knowledge, experience, and novel approaches to analyzing the effects of catch share programs using an indicator-based approach.