Fisheries Innovation Fund 2019 Request for Proposals

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) awards up to $440,000 in grants through the Fisheries Innovation Fund. In partnership with NOAA, this program fosters innovation and supports effective participation of fishermen and their communities in the implementation of sustainable aquaculture and fisheries in the United States.

One of the program's three key priorities is supporting the implementation of marine aquaculture. 

Priority for marine aquaculture funding will be given to projects that address at least one of the strategies described below for offshore* aquaculture in one of the following geographies:

1. New England
2. Southern California
3. Gulf of Mexico

Also, priority will be given to marine aquaculture of mollusks or seaweed in 4. Alaska (for mariculture).

*Offshore aquaculture sites are typically located in the open ocean or federal waters. 

The committee is looking for projects that engage communities, management agencies, ocean users and others in:

• development and implementation of risk management strategies and plans that will help to identify, minimize and mitigate risk factors associated with marine aquaculture (e.g., transfer of disease, water quality, fish escapes, genetic effects on wild populations, impacts on other marine wildlife, etc.) and protect the ecological quality of the seabed.
• development of plans to inform the appropriate siting of marine aquaculture operations, avoiding environmental risks and reducing the potential for ocean use conflicts. This could include projects that draw from existing environmental and ocean use data and may contribute new data products or analyses that facilitate the implementation of environmentally sustainable aquaculture.

Deadlines 

• Pre proposals due:
  Wednesday, May 1, 2019
  by 11:59 p.m. ET
• Full proposals due:
  Wednesday, July 10, 2019
  by 11:59 p.m. ET

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation hosted an informational webinar about this funding opportunity on Wednesday, April 17.

Watch the webinar recording

Please see the website for qualifying requirements and submission instructions.