New Catlin grant to help local marine charities

A grant to award funding to projects focused on the Bermuda marine environment was announced today.

The Catlin Marine Grant is a new initiative launched by the Bermuda End to End and its title sponsor, Catlin Bermuda. It is linked to the Catlin Seaview Survey, a series of worldwide scientific expeditions launched by Catlin in 2012 to document the composition and health of the world’s coral reefs.

Totaling $100,000, the grant will be paid out over three years, beginning this year. It may be divided into smaller funds for a number of individual projects lasting less than one year or up to three years.

The grant may also be used to fund a single project spanning three years.

Announcing the grant at a press conference today, Graham Pewter, Catlin Bermuda CEO said: “We are very excited to announce this special grant to support local charities involved in marine environmental protection.

“In light of the reef-mapping work undertaken by the Catlin Seaview Survey in Bermuda this year and our wish for a lasting legacy, the creation of the Catlin Environmental Grant is a great way to generate new initiatives within the local charitable and scientific community.

“Our goal is to encourage the creation of new projects which have measureable outcomes and are sustainable over time.

“These can be either scientific or educational projects. We welcome collaborative initiatives from local charities for this new award.”

Trevor Moniz, Minister of Health and Environment thanked Catlin Bermuda and Bermuda End to End for the creation of the grant.

“As the Minister of Health and Environment, this is certainly an initiative which I support. I commend their goal to encourage the creation of new environmental projects, whether they be scientific or educational projects.”

Ann Mello, chair of the End to End Charitable Trust said: “From its inception, our event has encouraged its participants to respect, value and appreciate the Bermuda environment.

“This new initiative is a wonderful extension to our purpose.”

Deadline for submissions is February 28. A shortlist of charities will then be selected and will present their proposals to a committee.

Existing projects will be considered, but new projects are encouraged.