The fellowship Program was established to respond to the need for additional coral reef management capacity in the U.S. Flag Pacific and Caribbean islands. State and territorial coral reef management agencies are provided two-year Fellows whose education and work experience meet each island’s specific needs, while providing the individual fellows with professional experience in coastal and coral reef resources management. Fellows are government contractors and receive a non-negotiable yearly salary. Applicants typically have a master’s degree and 2 years of experience or a bachelor’s degree and 4 years of experience.