The Saltonstall-Kennedy Act established a fund (known as the S-K fund) used by the Secretary of Commerce to provide grants or cooperative agreements for fisheries research and development projects addressing aspects of U. S. fisheries, including, but not limited to, harvesting, processing, marketing,
and associated business infrastructures.
Under this authority, grants and cooperative agreements are made on a competitive basis (subject to availability of funding) to assist in carrying out projects related to U. S. commercial and recreational fisheries.
The term “fisheries” encompasses wild capture, marine aquaculture and recreational fishing.
The objective of the S-K Grant Program is to address the needs of the fisheries and fishing communities in optimizing economic benefits by building and maintaining sustainable fisheries and practices, dealing with the impacts of conservation and management measures, and increasing other opportunities to use existing infrastructure to support keeping working waterfronts viable.
U. S. fisheries include any fishery, commercial or recreational, that is, or may be, engaged in by citizens or nationals of the United States.
Proposals submitted to this competition must address at least one of the following priorities:
Marine Aquaculture; Adapting to Environmental Change and Other Long Term Ecosystem Change; Promotion, Development and Marketing; or Territorial Science.
This Federal Funding Opportunity includes information on application and criteria for research proposals requesting a maximum of $300,000 in Federal funding for up to a two-year period.
Matching funds are not required, nor will they be considered during the evaluation process.
Awards are anticipated to start no earlier than September 1, 201 8. Grant awards are dependent on the availability of Federal funding as provided in enacted Appropriations Acts.
This FFO is being released prior to final appropriations due to award process time frames.
While the FY 2018 President's budget proposed $0 for this program, final Congressional direction has not been determined.
Applicants are not guaranteed any level of funding.
Should funds not be available in FY2018 submitted applications may be carried over to subsequent fiscal year for review and obligation should funds be available and the Agency deems this the most appropriate administrative process.