Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program Fiscal Year 2020 Funding Opportunity

Funding for innovative solutions to fisheries
bycatch challenges

The Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program provides funding to support applied management projects and activities to reduce bycatch. Bycatch reduction is a top priority for NOAA Fisheries, as outlined in our National Bycatch Reduction Strategy. Bycatch contributes to overfishing, threatens endangered and threatened species and protected marine mammals, and can close fisheries, significantly impacting U.S. economic growth. Through this program, we support the development and testing of fishing gears that minimize bycatch and habitat impacts.

There are four high-priority areas for the Fiscal Year 2020:

• Developing innovative and effective technologies.

• Improving understanding of post-release mortality.

• Developing techniques to reduce interactions between fishing gears and corals, sponges, and other structure-forming invertebrates.

• Addressing international bycatch issues.

For Applicants

• Apply (See live link here.)

Application Process – Who Can Apply?

This grant program provides competitive grants to non-federal researchers working on the development of improved fishing practices and innovative gear technologies. Eligible applicants include U.S. citizens; institutions of higher education; nonprofits; commercial organizations; foreign public entities; organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments; international organizations; and state, local and Indian tribal governments. Federal agencies or instrumentalities are not eligible to receive federal assistance under this funding opportunity.