December 17, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
NOAA Fisheries is pleased to announce the 2022 federal funding opportunity to support applied management projects and activities under the agency’s Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program, also known as BREP.
The funding opportunity outlines five high priority areas including developing innovative and effective technologies, further testing and development of technologies or gear modifications that have already been piloted, improving understanding of post release mortality, developing techniques to reduce interactions between corals and sponges, and international bycatch issues. Non-federal researchers working on the development of improved fishing practices and innovative gear technologies are eligible to apply for funding.
The deadline for pre-proposals is January 20, 2022. Full proposals are due April 4, 2022.
Bycatch reduction is a priority for NOAA Fisheries because bycatch can contribute to overfishing, threaten endangered and threatened species and protected marine mammals, and can close fisheries, significantly impacting U.S. economic growth.
For more information on the FFO and program impacts to date, visit our BREP webpage.