Highly Migratory Species Research Initiative | NOAA OAR SG 2019 2006046

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA OAR SG 2019 2006046

The Highly Migratory Species Research Initiative is a NOAA Sea Grant funding opportunity designed to improve the science needed to manage and conserve Atlantic highly migratory species, especially tunas, billfish, and sharks, in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. These species play a major role in ocean ecosystems and also support valuable commercial and recreational fisheries, but management is often constrained by basic information gaps. The opportunity is aimed at closing those gaps by funding research that strengthens understanding of HMS life history, biology, and population status, so that future decisions about harvest, conservation measures, and long term stock sustainability can rest on better evidence.

A central theme of the initiative is that better HMS science has direct benefits for coastal communities and fisheries that depend on healthy stocks. The program explicitly recognizes that many groups have a stake in how these species are studied and managed, including federal and state agencies, commercial and recreational fishing sectors, the broader seafood supply chain, academic researchers, and even consumers. Sea Grant positions itself as a bridge between universities and end users, not only funding research but also emphasizing the transfer of results to the people who can apply the findings in management, industry practices, and conservation planning.

The initiative was launched in response to direction from Congress in the FY 2019 NOAA appropriations, which instructed Sea Grant to allocate up to 2 million dollars to start an HMS research effort focused on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. One highlighted area of interest is research on interactions between yellowfin tuna and oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, reflecting a real world management question tied to how offshore structures may influence tuna behavior, aggregation, catchability, or broader ecosystem dynamics. More broadly, the priorities for what should be funded were informed by NOAA Fisheries and stakeholder input, particularly the 2014 Atlantic HMS Management Based Research Needs and Priorities document, which outlined critical research gaps that, if addressed, would improve stock assessments and management effectiveness.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA under the National Sea Grant College Program. It is a discretionary funding opportunity and can be awarded as either a grant or a cooperative agreement, supporting research and development in environment, natural resources, and related science and technology areas. The listing is associated with CFDA number 11.417. The total funding available is capped at 2,000,000 dollars, with an expectation of making about five awards, implying multiple projects rather than a single large effort. The funding opportunity number is NOAA OAR SG 2019 2006046, it was created on April 19, 2019, and the original application deadline was June 19, 2019. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional clarification expected in the full eligibility section of the notice, which commonly signals that Sea Grant competitions may allow applications from a range of organizations depending on the specific rules in the full announcement.

Overall, the grant opportunity is best understood as targeted, management relevant research funding meant to strengthen the scientific foundation for Atlantic and Gulf HMS stewardship. It supports projects that can produce actionable knowledge, align with established NOAA and stakeholder identified research needs, and ensure that results do not sit on a shelf but are communicated to managers, fishermen, industry, and communities that rely on these species.

• The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Highly Migratory Species Research Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.417.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 19, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 19, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for NOAA OAR SG 2019 2006046

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