Saltonstall-Kennedy Competition – United States

Deadline: 24-Jul-23

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) seeks applications from a variety of sectors, including individuals, industry, academia, and state and local governments that demonstrate direct benefits to U.S. fisheries and meaningful participation of fishing communities.

Program Objectives

• The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act requires fishery managers to undertake efforts to prevent overfishing, rebuild overfished fisheries, ensure conservation, minimize by-catch, protect essential fish habitats, and realize the full potential of U.S. fishery resources. It further requires that the Federal government take into account the importance of fishery resources to fishing communities; provide for the sustained participation of such communities; and, to the extent possible, minimize the adverse economic impacts of conservation and management measures on such communities.
• The objective of the S-K Research and Development Program is to promote U.S. fisheries by assisting the fishing community to address marketing and research needs.

Program Priorities

• However, a singular research priority that most closely reflects the objectives of your proposal should be identified and will be used by NMFS for review purposes. These priorities are aimed at promoting and developing United States fisheries by growing awareness of and demand for products made from U.S. fishery resources, improving infrastructure, ensuring sustainable harvest and seafood supply, and supporting vibrant recreational fishing opportunities.
• Solicitation Priorities
  • Priority #1 – Promotion and Marketing
    • Projects sought should:
      • Increase market demand and value of U.S. fisheries and/or;
      • Develop or improve regional, national or global public relations and marketing opportunities to increase domestic production and/or demand for domestic products, and/or;
      • Include marketing strategies which involve participation of the seafood industry locally, regionally, or nationally, and/or;
      • Conduct domestic market research focused on stimulating demand for U.S. fisheries.
  • Priority #2 – Development, Infrastructure, and Capacity Building
    • Projects sought should:
      • Develop new or underutilized U.S. fisheries; and/or
      • Improve the capacity of fishery sectors, including but not limited to indigenous, artisanal, recreational and other sectors to participate in scientific initiatives, cooperative management, fishery management regulatory processes, or developing and/or marketing of new sustainable fishing opportunities; and/or
      • Encourage greater or more effective participation by fishing communities in a targeted area of the U.S. fishery supply chain; and/or
      • Demonstrate that any proposed new infrastructure or infrastructure improvement is needed and provides a broad benefit for the fishing community.
  • Priority #3 –  Science or Technology that Enhances Sustainable U.S. Fisheries
    • Projects sought should:
      • Directly impact U.S. fisheries through science and technology based projects that strengthen existing fisheries, or create new market opportunities for U.S. fishing communities; and/or
      • Demonstrate a direct need or benefit to the fishing community and connect with one or more segments of the U.S. fisheries supply chain; and/or
      • Include, within the scope of the project, participation of the fishing community.

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $10,000,000
• Award Ceiling: $500,000
• Award Floor: $25,000
• Project/Award Period: They will award grants or cooperative agreements for a maximum period of two years (24 months), but shorter term project proposals are welcomed. Applications beyond this 24-month duration will not be considered. The requested award start date must begin on the first day of the month and end on the last day of the month. Project start dates will be no earlier than September 1, 2024 and no later than March 1, 2025.

Eligibility Criteria

• You are eligible to apply for a grant or a cooperative agreement under the Saltonstall Kennedy Grant Competition if:
  • You are a citizen or national of the United States;
  • You represent an entity that is a corporation, partnership, association, or other non-Federal entity, non-profit or otherwise (including Indian tribes), if such entity is a citizen of the United States.
  • You are a citizen of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, or the States of Micronesia.
• They recognize the interest of the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior in defining appropriate fisheries policies and programs that meet the needs of the U.S. insular areas, so they encourage applications from individuals, government entities, and businesses in U.S. insular areas. They support cultural and gender diversity in our programs and encourage women and minority individuals and groups to submit applications.
• They encourage applications from members of fishing communities (including the Great Lakes) and applications that involve fishing community cooperation and participation. They will consider the extent of fishing community involvement when evaluating the potential benefit of funding a proposal.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.