Authority: Title 23, Chapter 5, and Title 28.2, Chapter 11, Code of Virginia.

A. This Item includes general and nongeneral fund appropriations to support institutional initiatives that help meet statewide goals described in the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act of 2005 (Chapters 933 and 945, 2005 Acts of Assembly).

B. If sufficient appropriations are not made available by the Commonwealth, it shall not be necessary for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to reallocate funds from existing research projects to provide the funding for research mandated in the Code of Virginia or in the Appropriation Act.

C. Out of this appropriation, $280,000 and four positions the first year and $280,000 and four positions the second year from the general fund is designated to support an Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Technology Center at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The center shall coordinate its efforts with the repletion program of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

D. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the development of a disease resistant native oyster remains a high priority for oyster-related research activities at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

E. Out of this appropriation, $90,000 the first year and $90,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the continuation of the Clean Marina Program.  This additional funding will allow the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to provide education, outreach, and technical assistance to the Commonwealth's marinas in an effort to improve water quality.

F. Out of this appropriation, $185,000 the first year and $185,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the monitoring of the Chesapeake Bay's blue crab population.  This additional support will permit the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to generate the data necessary to develop fishery management plans, determine in-danger habitats, and project the annual blue crab catch.

G. Notwithstanding Chapter 719, 1999 Acts of Assembly, out of this appropriation, $210,000 the first year and $210,000 the second year from the general fund shall be provided to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to support the Fishery Resource Grant Fund and Program. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request of the President of the College of William and Mary.