Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS FHQ 2023 2007749
The 2023 Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run by the Department of Commerce through NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Its core purpose is practical and applied: fund projects that develop, test, and demonstrate engineering solutions and changes in fishing practices that measurably reduce bycatch and bycatch-related harm. The program is focused on real-world outcomes that can be used by fishery managers and stakeholders, especially where improvements can directly inform management decisions for federally managed living marine resources.
BREP is centered on reducing unintended catch of both fish and protected wildlife, with explicit attention to species covered under the Endangered Species Act and other protected groups. This includes ESA-listed fish, marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles. The scope is not limited to vertebrates; the program also targets reductions in impacts to sensitive invertebrates and habitats such as sponges, deep-sea corals, and shallow tropical corals. In addition to gear or operational modifications that prevent bycatch in the first place, BREP also supports work that addresses what happens after an animal is released. That includes projects that quantify post-release mortality and injury, identify why mortality occurs, and develop techniques, handling protocols, or release methods that reduce injury and increase survival for species that are incidentally caught and then released.
For Fiscal Year 2023, NMFS anticipated making about $2.3 million available in total, with an expectation of funding roughly 10 to 15 projects. Individual awards were expected to be no more than $250,000 (the award ceiling). Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which generally means NOAA expects to have substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaborating on technical direction, data needs, or ensuring the work aligns with management priorities and can be translated into practice. The opportunity emphasizes alignment with program priorities referenced in the notice (the Program Priority Section, I.B.1 through I.B.5), signaling that proposals should be clearly responsive to defined bycatch research and engineering needs rather than being purely exploratory.
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); individuals; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. In other words, the program is open to many applicant types, reflecting that effective bycatch solutions often come from collaborations among fishermen, gear technologists, researchers, community organizations, and management partners. The opportunity falls under CFDA 11.472 and is categorized under environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development.
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity title "2023 Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program" and funding opportunity number "NOAA NMFS FHQ 2023 2007749." The opportunity was created on December 15, 2022, with an original application deadline of April 3, 2023. Overall, the program is designed to move beyond general research and toward implementable tools and practices that reduce bycatch, lessen harm to protected species and vulnerable habitats, and produce results that fisheries managers can use to improve conservation outcomes while supporting sustainable fishing operations.Apply for NOAA NMFS FHQ 2023 2007749
- 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 "2023 Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.472.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 15, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 03, 2023. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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2023 Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) FAQs
What is the 2023 Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP)?
The 2023 Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Commerce through NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). It funds practical, applied projects that develop, test, and demonstrate engineering solutions and changes in fishing practices that measurably reduce bycatch and bycatch-related harm.
What is the main purpose of BREP funding?
The core purpose is to support real-world, implementable tools and practices that reduce unintended catch (bycatch) and lessen harm to protected species and vulnerable habitats. The program is specifically focused on outcomes that can be used by fishery managers and stakeholders, including results that can directly inform management decisions for federally managed living marine resources.
Which federal agency runs this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), within the U.S. Department of Commerce.
What kinds of projects does BREP support?
BREP supports projects that develop, test, and demonstrate engineering solutions and changes in fishing practices that reduce bycatch and bycatch-related harm. This can include gear modifications, operational changes, and methods designed to prevent bycatch from occurring in the first place, as well as work focused on improving outcomes after incidental capture and release.
Does BREP only fund gear modification projects?
No. In addition to gear or operational modifications aimed at preventing bycatch, BREP also supports projects that address post-release outcomes, such as quantifying post-release mortality and injury, identifying causes of mortality, and developing techniques, handling protocols, or release methods that reduce injury and increase survival.
What types of bycatch does the program focus on?
The program focuses on reducing unintended catch of both fish and protected wildlife, with explicit attention to species covered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other protected groups. This includes ESA-listed fish, marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles.
Does BREP address impacts to invertebrates and habitats?
Yes. The scope is not limited to vertebrates. The program also targets reductions in impacts to sensitive invertebrates and habitats, including sponges, deep-sea corals, and shallow tropical corals.
How is "success" defined for BREP projects?
Based on the description of the opportunity, BREP emphasizes measurable reductions in bycatch and bycatch-related harm, and it favors applied results that fishery managers and stakeholders can use, especially where improvements can directly inform management decisions for federally managed living marine resources.
How much total funding was anticipated for FY 2023?
For Fiscal Year 2023, NMFS anticipated making about $2.3 million available in total.
About how many awards did NMFS expect to make?
NMFS expected to fund roughly 10 to 15 projects.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
Individual awards were expected to be no more than $250,000.
What type of funding instrument is used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements. This generally means NOAA expects substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaborating on technical direction, data needs, or ensuring the work aligns with management priorities and can be translated into practice.
What does NOAA "substantial involvement" mean in this context?
The opportunity indicates that under cooperative agreements, NOAA may be involved in areas like technical direction, coordination on data needs, and helping ensure the work aligns with management priorities and can be translated into real-world practice.
Who is eligible to apply for the 2023 BREP opportunity?
Eligibility includes: state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); individuals; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Is the opportunity limited to academic institutions or government agencies?
No. Eligibility is broad and includes governments, universities, tribes, nonprofits, individuals, and both small and certain other for-profit organizations. The opportunity reflects that bycatch solutions often come from collaborations among fishermen, gear technologists, researchers, community organizations, and management partners.
Is this opportunity open to small businesses?
Yes. Small businesses are explicitly included in the eligibility list.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
Yes. Individuals are listed as an eligible applicant type.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The opportunity falls under CFDA 11.472.
How is the opportunity categorized?
It is categorized under environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development.
What is the official funding opportunity title?
The funding opportunity title is "2023 Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program."
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is "NOAA NMFS FHQ 2023 2007749."
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on December 15, 2022.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was April 3, 2023.
Does BREP prioritize certain kinds of proposals?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes alignment with program priorities referenced in the notice (the Program Priority Section, I.B.1 through I.B.5). This signals that proposals should clearly respond to defined bycatch research and engineering needs rather than being purely exploratory.
What is the overall goal of the program for fisheries management and conservation?
The program is designed to move beyond general research and toward implementable tools and practices that reduce bycatch, lessen harm to protected species and vulnerable habitats, and produce results that fisheries managers can use to improve conservation outcomes while supporting sustainable fishing operations.
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