NC Sea Grant Updates Aquaculture Initiative Deadlines

In North Carolina, aquaculture operations use specialized gear. Photo by Chuck Weirich.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Katie Mosher, 919-515-9069, kmosher@ncsu.edu
John Fear, 919-515-9104, jmfear@ncsu.edu
Chuck Weirich, 252-222-6314, chuck_weirich@ncsu.edu

North Carolina Sea Grant has clarified internal deadlines for potential partners to make contact with Sea Grant staff regarding participation in proposals to be submitted for the 2017 National Aquaculture Initiative.

The National Sea Grant Program now has two competitive funding opportunities, listed below. Together the programs will advance aquaculture research, address barriers to aquaculture, and expand aquaculture production. Up to $15 million is expected to be available over several years. Interested parties are required to partner with a Sea Grant program, which will submit applications.

Integrated Projects to Increase Aquaculture Production (NOAA-OAR-SG-2017-2005176)

This competition is designed to foster the expansion of sustainable U.S. marine, coastal and Great Lakes aquaculture. Successful applications must outline integrated projects that clearly address major constraints, barriers or hurdles limiting U.S. aquaculture production.

Potential partners must contact North Carolina Sea Grant by March 22, 2017, so that letters of interest can be completed and submitted by the March 28, 2017, deadline cited in the complete request for proposals (see link above). The letters of interest MUST be submitted by a Sea Grant director.

Drafts of full proposals, including Sea Grant partners, are due to North Carolina Sea Grant by April 20, 2017. That will allow North Carolina Sea Grant to review proposals and complete the official submission by the May 9, 2017, deadline.

Addressing Impediments to Aquaculture Opportunities (NOAA-OAR-SG-2017–2005177)

This competition is focused on answering key questions regarding impediments to the development and expansion of sustainable U.S. marine, coastal and Great Lakes aquaculture. Successful applications must outline small-scale projects, business plans, workshops, etc., to address key questions, barriers or hurdles.

Researchers and industry representatives interested in partnering with North Carolina Sea Grant must make contact with a staff member by March 31, 2017. That will allow North Carolina Sea Grant to consider opportunities and select up to three proposals that must be completed and submitted by April 18, 2017, for the national competition (see link above).

Eligibility for this call is limited to Sea Grant programs across the country. However, North Carolina Sea Grant and other programs seek to collaborate with interested parties to develop potential project proposals.

Both national competitions encourage a team approach — from a state, regional or topic-based perspective — to generate proposals that fully integrate at least one Sea Grant program and one partner.

Overall, the national Sea Grant network works to advance aquaculture by:

• Funding targeted research and development for issues that challenge sustainable aquaculture.
• Offering training and technical assistance to improve business profits and production efficiency.
• Educating consumers about safe, sustainable seafood choices.

For more details, see the NOAA announcement.

For questions regarding North Carolina Sea Grant proposal submissions, please contact:

John Fear, 919-515-9104, jmfear@ncsu.edu

Chuck Weirich, 252-222-6314, chuck_weirich@ncsu.edu

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North Carolina Sea Grant: Your link to research and resources for a healthier coast