The mission of the National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) is to support the development of technological solutions and changes in fishing practices designed to minimize bycatch of fish and protected species (including Endangered Species Act-listed fish, marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles) and to reduce impacts to invertebrates (including sponges, deep-sea corals, and shallow (tropical) corals.) In addition, BREP may support projects that quantify post-release mortality and identify ways to minimize mortality and injury of bycaught species (including post-release injury and mortality). Projects should produce outcomes that can directly influence management needs of federally managed living marine resources.
Deadlines:
Eligible applicants are individuals, institutions of higher education, other nonprofits, forprofit organizations, foreign public entities or foreign organizations, and state, local, and Indian tribal governments. Federal agencies or instrumentalities are not eligible to receive Federal assistance under this notice.
To facilitate the interest of BREP in addressing bycatch research and science and management priorities of Fishery Management Councils, NMFS Regions and Science Centers, Commissions, etc., applicants are encouraged to engage with partners by subaward, contract, unfunded partnerships, or other collaborations. Applicants should consider research and science and management priorities of Fishery Management Councils, NMFS Regions and Science Centers, Interstate Marine Fisheries Commissions, Marine Mammal Take Reduction Teams, etc. when developing proposals.
This solicitation announces approximately $2,300,000 in federal funds that may be available in FY 2024 to provide support for 10 to 15 projects at approximately $50,000 to $200,000 per project. NOAA does not anticipate funding project proposals requesting greater than $250,000 in federal funding. Most projects will be up to one year, as described in Section II.B. of this announcement. It is expected that the majority of funding will be towards projects that address the highest Program Priorities, I.B.1 and I.B.2.
