The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), in cooperation and funding from the NOAA Fisheries Office of Aquaculture, will be issuing approximately $690,000 in grants to fund marine aquaculture pilot projects focusing on sustainable aquatic farming techniques and regional business practices to grow U.S. domestic seafood. Individual proposals should not exceed $125,000 or be less than $50,000. PSMFC anticipates funding approximately 6-8 projects. Detailed information on the funding opportunity may be found here.

The geographic scope of the proposed projects is for the U.S. West Coast states of Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington, as well as Hawaii and U. S. Pacific Islands. The primary location of the proposed projects must be in the marine waters/estuarine environment.

Proposals are being sought to conduct regional pilot programs for partnerships between the seafood industry and community partners. The goal of these pilot programs will be to develop, validate and deploy economically and environmentally sustainable aquatic farming techniques and regional business practices to grow U.S. domestic seafood production. To maximize the impact of these pilot grants, priority is being given to promising but less commercially developed technologies, such as those targeting shellfish, seaweed, and other relative newcomers to the domestic aquaculture industry.

Researchers at U.S. academic institutions, research laboratories, for-profit companies/firms, nonprofits, and state agencies are all eligible. Proposals from foreign entities are not eligible. Proposals involving multiple investigators are welcome. Any U.S. federal government agencies, including Regional Fishery Management Councils are not eligible to receive funding through this solicitation.