FY 25 Bluefin Tuna Research Program | NOAA NMFS SE 2025 28400

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS SE 2025 28400

The FY 25 Bluefin Tuna Research Program is a NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) discretionary funding opportunity that supports research aimed at strengthening science-based management of Atlantic bluefin tuna. The program is designed to improve the scientific foundation used to manage bluefin tuna fisheries, with a strong emphasis on filling key knowledge gaps about the fishery, overall abundance, and the species biology. A central focus is better understanding how bluefin tuna move and mix between the eastern and western Atlantic populations, since that mixing directly affects stock assessments and, ultimately, management decisions.

This opportunity is positioned as part of a broader, multi-year international research effort connected to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). The United States is a Contracting Party to ICCAT, and the grant-funded work is meant to contribute to ICCAT-related science and management improvements. Proposals that clearly demonstrate collaboration with the ICCAT Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Research Program and other ICCAT partners are highlighted as especially relevant, reflecting the program goal of producing results that feed into shared international science priorities and management needs.

Awards will be made as cooperative agreements, which typically means NOAA expects more direct involvement than in a standard grant, such as coordination on project activities, deliverables, or data sharing. The maximum funding per award is $300,000, with about five awards expected under this competition. The official closing date listed is November 1, 2024, and the opportunity was created on August 29, 2024. The program is categorized under environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development, and it is listed under CFDA number 11.472.

Eligibility is broad within the United States and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), individuals, and state, county, city/township, and special district governments. Federally recognized Tribal governments and other Tribal organizations are also eligible. Federal agencies and federal institutions are not eligible to apply. In addition, foreign governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, and international organizations are specifically excluded from eligibility. The stated reason for these exclusions is that the program is intended to optimize the research and development benefits derived from U.S. marine fishery resources, even though the research itself is linked to international management through ICCAT.

In practical terms, competitive proposals for this program should align tightly with management-relevant questions for Atlantic bluefin tuna, especially research that clarifies population structure, migration and mixing dynamics, abundance indicators, fishery characteristics, and biological factors that influence assessments. Strong applications will also show how the work connects to ICCAT science priorities, including concrete collaboration plans, data integration approaches, and pathways for results to inform assessments and management. The funding opportunity number for reference is NOAA NMFS SE 2025 28400, and the sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA (ERA Production).

• The DOC NOAA - ERA Production in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 25 Bluefin Tuna Research 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 2024-08-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-11-01. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), 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.

Apply for NOAA NMFS SE 2025 28400

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