Sea Grant Announces the FY 2024 National Aquaculture Initiative

Cover: Extension specialist working with students to fill a remote setting tank with shells by Logan Bilbrough | Maryland Sea Grant.

Update: A recorded webinar as well as a PDF copy of the webinar presentation overviewing the Sea Grant FY 2024 National Aquaculture Initiative: Enhancing Production of Coastal, Marine, and Great Lakes Aquaculture Species competition is now available. To access the recorded webinar, the PDF copy, as well as the NOFO go to https://seagrant.noaa.gov/funding/ and under current opportunities click on the enhancing production opportunity.

The National Sea Grant College Program recently announced an anticipated $5,000,000 to $6,000,000 in funding (subject to availability) for research projects and programs that will develop and refine methods, protocols, techniques, and/or strategies to enhance the production of one or more life stages of aquaculture species to improve the efficiency, output, and profitability of commercial coastal, marine, or Great Lakes region aquaculture businesses. 

Projects that focus on the following aquaculture categories and organisms in both marine and freshwater are eligible for this competition and include:

• Microalgae and macroalgae (seaweed)

• Molluscs

• Crustaceans

• Ornamentals

• Baitfish

• Finfish species for food production

• Miscellaneous invertebrates

This opportunity is open to: any individual; any public or private corporation, partnership, or other association or entity (including any Sea Grant College, Sea Grant Institute or other institution); or any State, political subdivision of a State, Tribal government or agency or officer thereof. Applications require the standard 50% non-federal match for Sea Grant projects.

Find the full notice of funding opportunity, more eligibility information and learn how you can apply at seagrant.noaa.gov/funding.