Early Stage Propagation Strategies for Aquaculture Species

Important Dates

Informational Webinar: October 15, 2021 at 3 pm ET (See here for Q&A).

Notices to Submit due: November 16, 2021 at 5 PM. Submit to oar.hq.sg.aquaculture@noaa.gov AND jlachance@mdsg.umd.edu 

Materials due to Maryland Sea Grant: January 20, 2022

Federal Proposal deadline: February 3, 2022

All proposals to this competition must be submitted by a Sea Grant program. Other interested entities must submit proposals in partnership with and through a relevant Sea Grant Program. Please reach out to us early to learn about how to submit through Maryland Sea Grant and our eSeaGrant portal.

Summary

Subject to the availability of funding, Sea Grant anticipates approximately $4,000,000 will be available for research projects and programs that will develop and refine early stage propagation strategies (e.g., reproduction, hatchery, and/or nursery strategies) for aquaculture species (defined below) to supply on-growing operations. Sea Grant expects to fund approximately 5-16 projects for up to three years, with a maximum request of either $250,000 in federal funds for an individual research project, or up to $750,000 in federal funds for a multi-partner proposal. Successful proposals will address topical needs (described below) and integrate research and extension. Proposals are sought that will support broad, non-proprietary research to address critical gaps with respect to early stage propagation strategies for aquaculture species; make that information available to U.S. aquaculture businesses; and include Sea Grant aquaculture extension personnel and preferably industry stakeholders. These investments are consistent with Sea Grant’s focus area of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (SFA) and the Sea Grant Network’s 10-year Aquaculture Vision, both which support NOAA and Department of Commerce aquaculture goals. Proposals must include funding (federal or match) for Sea Grant extension personnel as collaborators. Industry stakeholder participation/involvement in projects is strongly encouraged. 

Competition Goal and Focus

The overall goal of this competition ("Early Stage Propagation Strategies for Aquaculture Species," NOFO number: NOAA-OAR-SG-2022-2007053) is to develop and refine early stage propagation strategies of aquaculture species to support on-growing operations (note that there are 19 finfish species excluded from this competition, as they are instead eligible for a concurrent competition: “Marine Finfish Aquaculture: Juvenile Production Technologies,” NOFO number: NOAA-OAR-SG-2022-2007054). 

This competition focuses on research projects and programs that will develop and refine early stage propagation strategies (e.g. reproduction, hatchery, and/or nursery strategies) for aquaculture species excluding selected marine finfish species for food. Strong applications will address program priorities described below and will integrate research and extension. Proposals are sought that support broad, non-proprietary research to develop and refine early stage propagation strategies, such as reproduction, hatchery, and/or nursery strategies, for aquaculture species; make that information available to U.S. coastal and Great Lakes aquaculture businesses; and include Sea Grant aquaculture extension personnel and also preferably industry stakeholders.

Program Priorities

An essential aspect of production of aquacultured species is a reliable and consistent supply of organisms for on-growing operations. This competition is focused on funding
research projects and programs that will advance development and refinement of early stage propagation strategies, such as reproduction, hatchery, and/or nursery strategies, for aquaculture species excluding selected marine finfish species. 

Aquaculture categories (organisms) eligible for this competition are:

• Microalgae and macroalgae (seaweed)
• Molluscs
• Crustaceans
• Ornamental finfish
• Baitfish
• Finfish species (marine and freshwater) not specified in the concurrent NOFO (NOAAOAR-SG-2022-2007054)
• Misc. invertebrates

The above criteria should lead to the selection of proposals that: 

1. Address development and refinement of early stage propagation strategies for the production of aquaculture species; 
2. Demonstrate that the work proposed will meaningfully advance the commercialization of the species being studied;
3. Demonstrate a plan to extend the results of work to industry stakeholders in the U.S. The involvement of industry stakeholders is also strongly encouraged.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

More information about this competition can be found in the official NOFF or with funding opportunity number: NOAA-OAR-SG-2022-2007053 on www.grants.gov, as well as at seagrant.noaa.gov/funding.

For more details, join the informational webinar on October 15, 2021 at 3 pm ET (Link to join webinar here)

If you have any questions or concerns please contact:

Jim LaChance, Aquaculture Projects Coordinator
jlachance@mdsg.umd.edu
301-405-6372

Dr. Michael Allen, Associate Director for Research and Administration
mallen@mdsg.umd.edu
301-405-6372