Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Archives

NOAA Announces Projects Recommended for Saltonstall-Kennedy 2022 Funding

May 3, 2022 — NOAA Fisheries has recommended more than $11.8 million for 44 projects under the 2022 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Grants Program. The projects fall into two categories:

Promotion, development, and marketing and science
Technology that promotes sustainable U.S seafood production and harvesting

For more than 40 years, NOAA has awarded grant funding for projects under the Saltonstall-Kennedy program to individuals, institutions, organizations, tribes and businesses across the country. These funds help address the needs of fishing communities, support economic opportunities, and build and maintain resilient and sustainable fisheries.

The goal of the Saltonstall-Kennedy program is to fund projects that:

Address the needs of fishing communities at all scales (local, regional, national)
Optimize economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries
Increase other opportunities to keep working waterfronts viable

These 44 proposals represent the top projects best positioned to meet this goal.

Demand for funding was high again this year. Initially, NOAA received 270 pre-proposals. Out of that number, at least three subject matter experts reviewed 137 full proposals requesting more than $38 million during the technical merit review phase. The top proposals in each NOAA Fisheries’ region were recommended for 2022 funding.

At this point in the selection process, the application approval and recommended funding is not final. Divisions of NOAA and the Department of Commerce, NOAA’s parent agency, must still give final approval before successful applicants receive funding.

Read the full story from NOAA

Eight aquaculture projects slated to receive USD 11 million through NOAA grant program

June 9, 2021 — NOAA Fisheries has recommended more than USD 11 million (EUR 9 million) for 43 projects under the 2021 Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Competitive Grants Program – eight of which are aquaculture initiatives.

The eight aquaculture-related projects recommended by NOAA include a number of scientific research projects examining topics ranging from pathogens to work on monetizing industry byproducts. Of the projects recommended for funding, five of them are examining subjects relevant to shellfish and bivalves.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Join us on July 9 for a Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Competition Webinar

July 1, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Please join NOAA Fisheries on Thursday, July 9 from 4 to 5 pm ET for an informational webinar outlining the process for applying to the 2021 Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Competition. A Q&A session will follow immediately after the webinar presentation.

Webinar Information
Event: FY21 S-K Grant Competition
Meeting Information Link: https://noaanmfs-meets.webex.com/noaanmfs-meets/onstage/g.php?MTID=e543334d93fbb784c9d079bbb98c7f37b
Date and time: Thursday, July 9, 2020 4:00 pm
Event number: 199 412 8905
Audio conference: US Toll +1-415-527-5035
Access code: 199 412 8905

Thank you for your continued interest in the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program.

Read the full release here

Grant funding takes West Coast sardine study to next level

May 21, 2020 — The following was released by the West Coast Seafood Processors Association:

A research project started by a Pacific Northwest seafood company and a nonprofit group over coffee with researchers will get $295,800 in federal funding to continue its work. The collaborative survey data will help inform sardine stock assessments and improve the understanding of other coastal pelagic species such as herring, anchovies and mackerel.

Ocean Gold Seafood, based in Westport, Wash., was awarded a Saltonstall-Kennedy grant on behalf of the West Coast Pelagic Conservation Group to continue a collaborative project that will benefit the seafood industry and scientific data collection process. The grants, commonly referred to as S-K grants, are used to fund projects that address the needs of fishing communities, optimize economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries and increase other opportunities to keep working waterfronts viable. The survey includes industry vessels and National Marine Fisheries Service and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife researchers and personnel.

“We learned a lot though this collaborative process,” Ocean Gold Chief Operations Officer Greg Shaughnessy said. “The survey itself is an intricate and energized dance of scientific procedures all happening in real time and at once. The team is professional. I have fished over 50 years, but I learned more about the sardine and other coastal pelagic species than I ever imagined.”

Shaughnessy said the survey was necessary to access some areas nearshore.

“The coastal pelagics industry realized we needed a boat on the water to help assess the shallower areas that the deeper draft federal research vessels couldn’t access,” Shaugnessy said. “We all had open minds and worked together with state and federal scientists to acquire the best available data for the sardine stock assessment.”

The project, “Utilize an Industry-Seine Fishing Vessel to Enhance Data Collection and Improve Assessment of Pacific Coast Coastal Pelagic Species for the Benefit of the Fishing Industry and Fishing Communities,” builds on past proof-of-concept research projects in which the West Coast Pelagic group started to help assess the nearshore stocks. These shallower areas are habitat for large volumes of sardines and other pelagic fish.

Read the full release here

June 27: Webinar on Applying for a Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant

June 21, 2019 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Join us for a webinar next Thursday on how to find and apply for Fiscal Year 2020 Saltonstall-Kennedy Funding. The details are provided below, including a link to the WebEx for the presentation.

Date/Time
Thursday, June 27, 2019 2:30 pm EST

Teleconference
Teleconference Line: 888-469-0956
Participant Passcode: 1348851

WebEx
Event number: 909 968 132
Event password: NOAA

Saltonstall-Kennedy Program Updates

June 5, 2019 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

2020 Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Competition

NOAA Fisheries has announced the opening of the 2020 application process for the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program. Pre-proposals will be accepted for 60 days, May 31 through July 30, 2019. This year’s solicitation seeks applications that fall into one of two priorities:

Promotion, Development, and Marketing.

Science or Technology that Promotes Sustainable U.S. Seafood Production and Harvesting.

Relevant information and application instructions are available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/grant/saltonstall-kennedy-grant-program.

Saltonstall-Kennedy Program Feedback Session

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a webinar to gather public feedback on the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program on Friday, June 14, 2019 at 10:30 AM. The purpose of this meeting is to obtain public feedback and recommendations from fishing community constituents on ways to improve communications, dissemination, and utilization of results achieved through projects funded by the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program. Additional details are available at http://www.mafmc.org/council-events/2019/saltonstall-kennedy-grant-program-public-feedback-webinar.

Fisheries marketing bill passes Senate unanimously

October 16, 2018 — On Aug. 22, the Senate passed bill 1322 to establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee with unanimous consent.

“That’s a big deal,” said Bruce Schactler, who helped write the bill and has been advocating for different versions of this committee for nearly a decade as a member of the National Seafood Marketing Coalition.

“Who passes anything out of the Senate unanimously?” asked Schactler. “Who passes anything out of the Senate at all, let alone unanimously?”

The Senate referred the bill to the House Natural Resources Committee, where it awaits markup to be sent to the floor for a vote.

If the House does pass the bill this year, then in the 2019 fiscal year, 10 percent of the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant funds would be delegated specifically to fisheries research and development. Proposals would be reviewed by a new committee of industry representatives, including fishermen, seafood marketers, processors, aquaculture stakeholders, and six regional seats.

“What we’re hoping will happen is the House takes this version verbatim and passes it as is,” Shactler added.

Looming on the horizon is another session of Congress, which would mean starting all over again.

Read the full story at National Fisherman

NOAA Calls for fish grant proposals

June 1, 2018 — NOAA has opened the annual Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant competition to interested applicants despite having no idea yet how much money it will have for projects designed to help fishing communities, sustain the nation’s fisheries and expand the viability of its working waterfronts.

“We don’t know what the amount is (for distribution) because we don’t have the fiscal year 2019 budget yet,” said Susan Olsen, the Saltonstall-Kennedy manager at NOAA’s Gloucester-based Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office. “We’re moving forward as if we already have funding.”

Olsen said she didn’t have any real sense of whether this year’s funding pool will be greater or less than the $10 million the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration distributed last year.

“I’m hoping it will be level-funded,” Olsen said.

The Saltonstall-Kennedy program administrators said they are seeking applications that relate to one of three priorities: promotion, development and marketing; marine aquaculture; and support for science that maximizes fishing opportunities and employment while also sustaining marine resources.

“We encourage applicants from the fishing community and applications that involve fishing community cooperation and participation,” NOAA said in its online primer on the grants program. “We will consider the extent of fishing community involvement when evaluating the potential benefit of funding a proposal.”

Applicants may request a minimum of $25,000 for their projects, but no more than $300,000.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Times

NOAA: 2019 Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Grant competition is currently open.

May 29, 2018 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

NOAA Fisheries is pleased to announce the 2019 Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Grant competition is currently open. This year’s solicitation consists of two separate submission processes. All interested applicants must submit a 2 page Pre-Proposal to the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) posted at www.Grants.gov found here. Applicants interested in submitting a full application after the pre-proposal review process must submit the full application through www.grants.gov.

Please note that under this one Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) there are two (2) competition links. Please be sure to submit your pre-proposals to the “PRE PROPOSALS FY19 Saltonstall-Kennedy” link prior to July 23, 2018, the date specified in this NOFO. Please be sure to submit your FULL Proposals to the “FULL Proposals FY19 Saltonstall-Kennedy” link prior to November 5, 2018, the date specified in this NOFO. Be sure to read the NOFO and follow the directions closely.

The goal of the S-K program is to fund projects that address the needs of fishing communities, optimize economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries, and increase other opportunities to keep working waterfronts viable. The FY19 solicitation seeks applications that fall into one of three priorities:

Promotion
Development
Marketing
Marine Aquaculture
Support of Science that Maximizes Fishing Opportunities
Revenue and Jobs in U.S. Fisheries
Long-Term Sustainability of Marine Resources

For more information click here.