Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS SE 2018 2005326
The FY 2018 Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN) grant opportunity is a discretionary funding program run by the Department of Commerce through NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southeast Region. It supports research and development projects that help improve and "optimize" the use of marine fisheries resources in key Southeast and Caribbean-related waters, specifically the Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the South Atlantic region off North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The basic idea is to fund practical, applied projects that can strengthen fisheries science and management while staying closely connected to the needs and realities of the U.S. fishing industry.
A central feature of MARFIN is its emphasis on direct involvement of the fishing community, including both commercial and recreational sectors. Projects are expected to engage industry participants in meaningful ways, whether through cooperative research, data collection partnerships, testing gear or methods with fishermen, or using industry knowledge to shape study design and interpretation. The program is meant to produce results that can be used on the water and in management decisions, not just studies that stay on paper.
The scope of work is broad within fisheries-related research and development. Proposed projects may focus on fishery biology (such as life history, habitat use, or stock structure), resource assessment (improving the data and methods used to estimate population status and trends), socio-economic assessment (understanding community impacts, costs, benefits, and fleet behavior), and management and conservation (supporting tools, strategies, or information that improve stewardship and sustainable use). MARFIN also allows projects involving selected harvesting methods, which can include evaluating gear performance, bycatch reduction approaches, efficiency and selectivity improvements, or other operational innovations. In addition, it supports work related to fish handling and processing, which can include improving product quality, reducing waste, increasing value, or developing better post-harvest practices that benefit both industry and consumers.
This opportunity aligns with NOAA's broader mission goal of "Healthy Oceans," meaning the funded work is intended to contribute to sustainable fisheries, resilient ecosystems, and science-based management that keeps marine resources productive over time. While it is not limited to a single species or fishery, proposals are expected to clearly connect their activities and outcomes to real-world fisheries use in the eligible regions and to demonstrate why the project matters for conservation, management, industry performance, or community well-being.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding opportunity is listed as "FY 2018 Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN)" with Funding Opportunity Number NOAA NMFS SE 2018 2005326 and CFDA (now commonly referred to as assistance listing) 11.433. NMFS anticipated making around 10 awards, with an award ceiling of $175,000 per award. Funding instruments may include grants and cooperative agreements, which generally indicates that NOAA may have more substantial involvement in the project compared to a standard grant, depending on the specific award terms. The original application closing date for this cycle was October 31, 2017, and the opportunity was created on August 24, 2017.
Eligibility is indicated as "Others," with details to be clarified in the program's additional eligibility language, which typically means the competition may be open to a range of applicants beyond state and local governments, such as universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, and other institutions, as long as they meet the stated requirements and can carry out the proposed work in collaboration with or involving the U.S. fishing industry. Overall, MARFIN is designed as a targeted, region-focused source of support for applied fisheries projects that improve knowledge, management, and industry practices in the Southeast and nearby U.S. waters.Apply for NOAA NMFS SE 2018 2005326
- The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2018 Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.433.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 24, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 31, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $175,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FY 2018 Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN) Grant Opportunity: FAQs
What is the FY 2018 Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN) program?
MARFIN is a discretionary funding program run by the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southeast Region. It supports applied marine fisheries research and development projects intended to improve and optimize the use of marine fisheries resources in eligible Southeast and Caribbean-related waters.
Which NOAA office administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southeast Region, under the Department of Commerce.
What is the main purpose of MARFIN funding?
The program funds practical, applied projects that strengthen fisheries science and management while staying closely connected to the needs and realities of the U.S. fishing industry. The intent is to produce results that can be used on the water and in management decisions, not just academic studies.
What regions and waters are eligible for MARFIN-supported work?
Projects should be tied to fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the South Atlantic region off North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Is this program focused on a specific species or fishery?
No. The opportunity is not limited to a single species or fishery, but proposals are expected to clearly connect project activities and outcomes to real-world fisheries use in the eligible regions.
What types of projects are supported under MARFIN?
The scope is broad within fisheries-related research and development. Supported topics may include fishery biology, resource assessment, socio-economic assessment, management and conservation, selected harvesting methods, and fish handling and processing.
What does MARFIN mean by "applied" or "practical" projects?
MARFIN emphasizes work that can be used in the field and in decision-making. Proposals should show how results will matter for conservation, management, industry performance, or community well-being in the eligible regions.
How important is fishing industry involvement in MARFIN projects?
Direct involvement of the fishing community is a central feature of MARFIN. Projects are expected to engage industry participants in meaningful ways, including commercial and recreational sectors.
What are examples of meaningful fishing community involvement?
Examples mentioned include cooperative research, data collection partnerships, testing gear or methods with fishermen, and using industry knowledge to shape study design and interpretation.
What kinds of fishery biology work may be supported?
Examples include research on life history, habitat use, or stock structure, as long as the work is clearly connected to fisheries use and management needs in the eligible regions.
What kinds of resource assessment work may be supported?
Projects may focus on improving the data and methods used to estimate population status and trends, supporting more informed and effective management.
What kinds of socio-economic projects may be supported?
MARFIN may support work that helps understand community impacts, costs and benefits, and fleet behavior related to fisheries in the eligible regions.
What kinds of management and conservation projects may be supported?
Projects may support tools, strategies, or information that improve stewardship and sustainable use of marine fisheries resources.
Does MARFIN support research on fishing gear or harvesting methods?
Yes. MARFIN allows projects involving selected harvesting methods, including evaluating gear performance, bycatch reduction approaches, and improvements to efficiency and selectivity, as well as other operational innovations.
Does MARFIN support fish handling and processing projects?
Yes. MARFIN supports work related to fish handling and processing, including efforts to improve product quality, reduce waste, increase value, or develop better post-harvest practices that benefit industry and consumers.
How does this opportunity align with NOAA priorities?
The opportunity aligns with NOAA's mission goal of "Healthy Oceans," with funded work intended to contribute to sustainable fisheries, resilient ecosystems, and science-based management that keeps marine resources productive over time.
How many awards were anticipated for this FY 2018 cycle?
NMFS anticipated making around 10 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $175,000 per award.
What types of funding instruments might NOAA use for this opportunity?
Funding instruments may include grants and cooperative agreements. The mention of cooperative agreements generally indicates NOAA may have more substantial involvement in the project than under a standard grant, depending on the award terms.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NOAA NMFS SE 2018 2005326.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number for MARFIN?
The CFDA (now commonly referred to as the assistance listing) number is 11.433.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 24, 2017.
What was the application closing date for this cycle?
The original application closing date for this cycle was October 31, 2017.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is indicated as "Others," with details to be clarified in the program's additional eligibility language. This typically means the competition may be open to a range of applicants beyond state and local governments, such as universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, and other institutions, as long as they meet the stated requirements and can carry out the proposed work in collaboration with or involving the U.S. fishing industry.
Does MARFIN require proposals to show relevance to real-world fisheries?
Yes. Proposals are expected to clearly connect activities and outcomes to real-world fisheries use in the eligible regions and to explain why the project matters for conservation, management, industry performance, or community well-being.
Is recreational fishing included in the program's industry involvement expectations?
Yes. The program emphasizes involvement of the fishing community, including both commercial and recreational sectors.
What is the overall focus of MARFIN as a regional program?
MARFIN is designed as a targeted, region-focused source of support for applied fisheries projects that improve knowledge, management, and industry practices in the Southeast and nearby U.S. waters.
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