H. Roy Gordon impacted many in the Aquaculture Industry and dedicated his services for many years on the Aquaculture Development Committee. The following was provided by the California Aquaculture Association (CAA) staff in remembrance of H. Roy Gordon.
Continue reading| National Sea Grant anticipates having between $5,000,000 to $6,000,000 for research projects and programs that will develop and refine methods, protocols, techniques, and/or strategies to enhance the production (e.g. performance, growth, survival, yield) of one or more life stages of aquaculture species with the overall goal of improving the efficiency, output, and profitability of commercial coastal, marine, or Great Lakes region aquaculture businesses. Proposals are sought that will support broad, non-proprietary research to address issues and/or barriers to aquaculture production; make that information available to aquaculture businesses; and preferably include participation and involvement of Sea Grant extension personnel and industry stakeholders. Funds will support approximately 4-12 projects nationwide for up to three years in the following categories: Up to $250,000 in federal funds can be requested by individual entities (e.g. a single individual, group, or institution) for research projects addressing the program priorities. Up to $1,200,000 in federal funds can be requested for projects proposing collaborative, multi-partner efforts addressing the program priorities. All applicants interested in partnering with California Sea Grant must complete a partnership form by January 3rd, 5:00 PM PT to help coordinate proposals with California Sea Grant Extension personnel. |
California’s bull kelp forests have been on the decline due to sea urchin predation, disease and other factors such as warmer weather. However, beginning in 2018, efforts to restore the decline of kelp forests in California began through collaborations formed between the aquaculture industry and conservation agencies to help restore and simultaneously boost commercial cultivation. Read more about this collaborative effort here
New Federal Funding Opportunity – DUE Friday, October 20, 2023.
| Courtesy of California Sea Grant: National Sea Grant anticipates approximately $16,000,000 will be available to support innovative, transformational research to application (R2A) projects that will address the prevention and/or removal of marine debris, with award periods of three years. This competition will support innovative research to application (R2A) projects that will address the prevention and/or removal of marine debris and provide the potential for transformational behavior change. “Research to application” or R2A refers to research that transitions into tangible outputs, including new prototypes, products, processes, or tools. Proposals should support priorities such as innovative interception and/or removal technologies; mitigation and clean-up of fishing gear debris; detection, understanding impacts, and removal of microplastics, nanoplastics and/or microfibers; and mitigation of the impacts of plastics in food webs. Proposed projects should also: 1) be responsive to state, local, tribal, and regional needs within a national framework, 2) leverage existing Sea Grant and partner investments and capacities, 3) embed diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility (DEIJA) fully into the effort, and 4) show how this work will be enhanced through partnerships, including collaboration among Sea Grant programs, and with other appropriate partners. This opportunity is open to any person or group within the United States or its territories, as well as tribal nations within those geographies. Applicants must submit proposals in partnership with a relevant Sea Grant program. Please note that it is not a requirement that investigators, including the Primary Investigator (PI), are part of a Sea Grant program, however, proposals must include funding for Sea Grant education and/or extension personnel as collaborators. Therefore, all applicants interested in partnering with California Sea Grant must complete a partnership form by Oct 20, 5PM PT to help coordinate proposals with California Sea Grant Extension personnel. Important dates October 3, 2023, 4:00PM PT: Optional Informational Webinar (recorded) October 20, 2023, 5:00PM PT: CASG Partnership form due January 31, 2024, 8:59PM PT: Letters of Intent due to sg.grants@noaa.gov March 27, 2024, 8:59PM PT: Full Proposals submitted to grants.gov |
Photo: California Golden Trout
On October 18, 2023 at 11:00am ET the first World Trout Culture Summit will be held as a virtual event. This event was put together so that fisheries and the aquaculture sectors will be able to come together and share knowledge about this freshwater species. The World Trout Culture Summit will include topics such as genetic research, growth performance and recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). For registration and schedule details please select link: World Trout Culture Summit.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Urban Agriculture Grant Program (UAGP) has a one-time only, competitive grant that may be able to fund your programs and projects and enhance urban agriculture across the state of California.
Urban Agriculture refers to the cultivation, processing, and distribution of agricultural products in urban settings, some examples include inground small plot cultivation, hydroponic, and aquaponic facilities. This Grant my help Urban farmers and gardeners work to expand access to nutritious foods, foster community engagement, offer workforce development opportunities, educate communities about food and farming, and expand green spaces.
CDFA defines “urban” as a geographic area no more than 25 miles adjacent to or outside of one Urbanized Area containing a population of 50,000 or more people.
Priority will be given to urban agriculture projects led by or serving priority populations. Priority Populations will be identified using the California Air Resources Board’s California Climate Investments Priority Populations map.
CDFA will award up to $11,670,000 for proposals through this solicitation.
| Activity | Date (tentative) PT Pacific Time |
|---|---|
| Public Comment Period | June 1 – June 15, 2023 |
| Request for Application Opens | August 21, 2023 |
| Request for Application Closes | October 23, 2023 @ 5pm PT |
| Application Information Session (will be recorded) | August 29, 2023 @ 1pm-2:30pm PT |
| Request for Proposal Review Period | November – January 2023 |
| Award Notification Period | February 2024 |
| Contract and Grant Agreement Period | February 2024 – May 2024 |
| Projects Begin (Estimated) | May 2024 |
Apply For the Urban Agriculture Grant Program!
The CDFA Urban Agriculture Grant Program will award up to $11,670,000 for proposals through this solicitation to fund programs and projects that enhance the viability of urban agriculture in urban areas across the state of CA.
Grant Applications Links: Please click the Track you are interested in applying to access the AmpliFund grant application. Also note that Applicants may only apply to ONE Track:
View the Request for Applications (RFA) for the full grant program details, including eligibility and funding information for each Track.
For additional assistance you can register for Informational Webinars including webinars hosted by AmpliFund where you will learn how to navigate the web application portal from start to finish (see “AmpliFund Grants Portal Information“).
The Nature Conservancy and The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Supporting Oyster Aquaculture and Restoration (SOAR) program has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the Shellfish Growers Resiliency Fund (Fund). The Fund aims to assist in sustaining the U.S. shellfish industry which benefits the ocean and the communities which rely upon it. Funding will be open to applicants in the United States and U.S. Territories.
The award will fund projects up to twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for one to two year projects and will target shellfish growers, shellfish aquaculture industry associations, as well as closely linked supply chain companies supporting aquaculture industry. The application deadline for the RFP is October 6, 2023.
To learn more about the Fund and the application process, visit the SOAR webpage. If you have questions about the Resiliency Fund, please contact Rebekah Borgert at rebekah.borgert@tnc.org, soar@tnc.org.
4th Annual California Seaweed Festival will be held at the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier in San Diego, CA from November 3 – 4, 2023.
The California Seaweed Festival arose from decades of studying seaweeds and and learning myriad ways that seaweeds make life better. The festival will showcase uses of seaweed from farming, sustainable technology to art. There will also be hands-on activities at this family friendly event.
If you are interested in presenting, displaying and/or volunteering at the event click: Seaweed Festival.
Courtesy of NAA
The Aquaponics Association is thrilled to announce that the 12th Annual Aquaponics Conference is being hosted in collaboration with the Santa Fe Community College this year in Albuquerque, NM from September 15 – 17th!
We are anticipating our largest conference to date with 250+ attendees and 20+ vendors! We are readily accepting presentation abstracts, sponsorships/vendors, silent auction items, as well as ticket purchases. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested or currently involved in aquaponics/aquaculture to attend, network, and support the growing aquaponics industry.
If you are interested, do not hesitate to reach out to Director@aquaponicsassociation.org with any questions, comments or concerns!
~ Joshua Dusci, Executive Director of The Aquaponics Association
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to California businesses and residents as a result of President Biden’s major disaster declaration, U.S. Small Business Administration’s Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman announced.
The declaration covers Merced, Sacramento and Santa Cruz counties as a result of severe winter storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides that began Dec. 27, 2022.
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Aquaculture Matters 