MREP workshops are free for all non-federal participants.

MREP provides the following at zero–cost for participants:

• Hotel lodging

• Meals

• Travel reimbursement to/from the workshop

• Professional Development

No prior formal education is required. Seats are limited and active fishermen will be given first priority.

On the last day of each workshop, you will be provided with an MREP “invoice” where you’ll list your charges and include all itemized receipts. You will receive a reimbursement check within 30 days of submitting the invoice.

An itemized receipt is a copy of your receipt that lists the individual items you bought. A credit card slip alone does not qualify for reimbursement—you must provide an itemized receipt.

Reach out to Leah or Rylee and we’ll send you a new one!

We will reimburse you based on the number of miles driven. The reimbursement rate for 2026 is $0.725 per mile.

Yes. Each region differs in mileage reimbursement (based on different costs for travel in each region).

Contact Leah or Rylee and they can provide you with additional regional reimbursement information.

We will reimburse for tolls if you have a receipt from the toll booth, or—in the case of electronic tolls—a snapshot of your online account that shows when, where, and how much you paid for each toll.

No. If you have a situation that would warrant a rental car, please talk to us in advance.

Yes. Each region differs in flight cost reimbursement (based on different costs for travel in each region).

Contact Leah or Rylee and they can provide you with additional regional reimbursement information.

Only coach/economy class seats are permitted, no upgrades.

The following are all considered upgrades, and therefore cannot be reimbursed:

• Seat selection

• Upgrades to another class (e.g., preferred, 1st class, etc.)

• Extra leg room; exit row; early boarding

You are entitled to reimbursement for meal expenses (i.e. breakfast, lunch, or dinner) on route to or from the workshop. To be eligible for reimbursement, you MUST provide:

• An itemized receipt that shows where and when you ate, the items you bought, and the amount you paid

• Please do note that we have limited grant funding to provide this educational experience to fishers across the region. While we have funds to pay for your travel food, please use your best judgment on limited excessive spending on a meal.

MREP typically provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner on workshop days. We will not reimburse for meals that you purchase on your own during the workshop when meals are provided. Note: if you have a dietary restriction or allergy that we didn’t account for, we can make an acceptation.

An itemized receipt is a copy of your receipt that lists the individual items you bought. A credit card slip alone does not qualify for reimbursement—you must provide an itemized receipt.

MREP is funded through federal grants from NOAA Fisheries and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

Yes. Workshop formats will either be:

• One 5-day workshop (Mon-Friday) that covers Science & Management, or one 6-day workshop (Western Pacific region only)

• To graduate from the program and receive your certificate of completion, you must complete the entire workshop (5-day or 6-day format). We understand that scheduling can be challenging. Please let us know ASAP if you cannot make the workshop, as we want to fill all of the seats for all workshops and do have waitlists.

MREP cannot pay for federal employees to attend. If you’re a federal employee, we will work with you to arrange to pay for your hotel room separately from the group. However, federal contractors are generally eligible for lodging and travel reimbursement. You’ll be able to discuss your eligibility and special billing instructions with the MREP team when you’re accepted to the program.