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Sea Grant 2019 Aquaculture Funding Opportunities

The National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP) has announced three federal funding opportunities (FFOs) to advance U.S. aquaculture for FY2019. Two of the three require a Sea Grant partner in order to submit the proposal for funding consideration from the NSGCP.  The third FFO does not require a Sea Grant partner, however, WHSG is willing to consider partnering with outside parties if the research is in line with our strategic plan.

» Download FFOs and requirements document (PDF)

 

Advanced Aquaculture Collaborative Programs–NOAA-OAR-SG-2019-2005963

Sea Grant anticipates at least $9,000,000 will be available to support the establishment of collaborative programs to build the capacity of Sea Grant and its partners to advance aquaculture in areas where a foundation of knowledge and activity currently exists but where significant barriers to sustainable domestic marine and Great Lakes aquaculture remain. These collaborative programs will serve as geographic or topic-based hubs for fully integrated, transdisciplinary research, outreach, and education that will provide broad, non-proprietary support and investment for building and/or enhancing an aquaculture industry.

  • Letters of intent are due by 5 pm EDT on April 8, 2019 to Woods Hole Sea Grant (see below for details).

 

Exploring New Aquaculture Opportunities–NOAA-OAR-SG-2019-2005960

Sea Grant anticipates $1,500,000 will be available to support Sea Grant-led aquaculture projects to catalyze work in a range of topics or geographies. This competition will fund diverse, and at times, high-risk, developmental projects that will envision, explore and advance aquaculture opportunities where a minimal foundation currently exists.

  • Letters of intent are due by 5 pm EDT on March 21, 2019 to Woods Hole Sea Grant (see below for details).

 

Social, Behavioral, and Economic Research Needs in Aquaculture–NOAA-OAR-SG-2019-2005953

The National Sea Grant Office anticipates around $3,000,000 will be available to support research to address critical gaps in social, behavioral, and economic knowledge as it relates to U.S. aquaculture and the communities impacted and served by it. The initiative is informed by the National Strategic Plan for Federal Aquaculture Research; the Sea Grant 10-Year NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Vision; and previous research from federal, state, and university scientists. This FFO does not require a Sea Grant partner, however, WHSG is willing to consider partnering with outside parties if the research is in line with our strategic plan. Please contact us at least one week ahead of submitting your letter of intent to the NSGCP if interested in partnering with WHSG (see deadlines below for further details).

  • Letters of intent are due to the NSGCP on April 2, 2019 (see formal announcement for details).
  • Full proposals are due to the NSGCP on May 1, 2019 (see formal announcement for details).

 

Requirements

Letters of Intent will allow the Woods Hole Sea Grant Office to gauge interest and topics that

may be submitted. Our program’s main interest and expertise most closely aligns with the Massachusetts shellfish aquaculture industry. More than 390 commercial shellfish growers are distributed throughout the MA coastline – collectively utilizing over 1,299 acres for their farming operations that exceed $28 million in yearly revenues (2017). As this local industry continues to grow, stakeholders regularly seek technical assistance germane to their operations, which WHSG provides through (1) courses, lectures, and workshops; (2) shellfish disease monitoring; (3) site visits to farms experiencing myriad possible issues; (4) predator/pest identification and advice on their control; (5) gear issues; and (6) water quality monitoring. Proposers are encouraged to contact our office to discuss their idea and how it might align with our program goals and what our role in the project is expected to be. This information should be incorporated in the letter of intent, which must include the following basic information:

 

Cover Page (1 page)

(1) Federal Funding Opportunity (e.g. Advanced Aquaculture Collaborative or Exploring New Aquaculture Opportunities)

(2) Team leadership

- Name(s)

- Position(s)

- Organization including contact information

 

Project Description (2 pages maximum including references and figures if applicable)

(3) Brief discussion of the focal topic or geographic issue and approach

- Should include the proposed role of Woods Hole Sea Grant in the program*

- Should include the approximate funding to be requested as well as the source and amount of the required 50% non-federal cost share

*Depending on our role in the project, we may need to add salary support or other costs to your budget request; non-WHOI PIs will be subcontractors, which will require addition of indirect costs in the amount of up to $16,250 per subcontract.

 

Submission & Review

Submit all letters of intent via email to seagrant@whoi.edu according to the deadlines above. The WHSG program staff will review your letter of intent for alignment with the relevant FFO as well as our own strategic plan and staffing resources. Interested parties may be asked to revise their letter of intent based on the review in which case revisions will be requested within three days of receipt. At the discretion of WHSG, we may suggest that proposal ideas be merged for strategic reasons. Letters of intent that include proposal ideas that do not fit the WHSG and FFO program priorities will not be forwarded to the NSGCP.

 

Contact Information
Jennie Rheuban, Research Coordinator, (jrheuban@whoi.edu)
Matt Charette, Director, (mcharette@whoi.edu)
Abigail Archer, Marine Resource Specialist, (aarcher@barnstablecounty.org)
Diane Murphy, Fisheries and Aquaculture Specialist, (dmurphy@whoi.edu)
Josh Reitsma, Marine Program Specialist, (jreitsma@barnstablecounty.org)
Grace Simpkins, Education Specialist (gsimpkins@whoi.edu)

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