2021 BREP | NOAA NMFS FHQ 2021 2006745

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS FHQ 2021 2006745

The 2021 BREP opportunity is a competitive federal grant program run by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) within the Department of Commerce under the National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP). Its core purpose is to fund practical, engineering-focused research and development that helps fisheries reduce bycatch, meaning the unintended capture or harm of non-target species during fishing. The program is oriented toward applied solutions that can be adopted in real fishing operations and that generate results useful to federal fishery managers overseeing federally managed living marine resources.

The work NMFS is seeking centers on developing and testing new technologies and modifications to fishing practices that measurably minimize bycatch of both fish and protected species. The opportunity explicitly includes species protected under the Endangered Species Act as well as marine mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles. It also extends beyond animals typically discussed in bycatch conversations by emphasizing the need to reduce impacts to sensitive invertebrates and habitats, including sponges, deep-sea corals, and shallow tropical corals. In addition to prevention, BREP supports projects that quantify what happens after release, such as post-release injury and mortality, and projects that identify methods to reduce those outcomes. The program is not just interested in generating academic knowledge; it expects projects to produce outcomes that can directly inform management needs, such as gear requirements, operational guidance, or other measures that regulators and fisheries can use to reduce bycatch and associated harm.

For Fiscal Year 2021, NMFS projected that roughly $2.5 million total could be available to fund projects aligned with the program priorities identified in the notice (referenced as Program Priority Section I.B.1 through I.B.4). The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates NMFS expects to have substantial involvement during the project period (for example, coordination on study design, testing, data needs, or dissemination of results), rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant.

The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NOAA NMFS FHQ 2021 2006745; CFDA 11.472) was posted December 15, 2020, with an original application deadline of April 1, 2021. NMFS anticipated making about 25 awards. The listed maximum funding per award (award ceiling) is $250,000, signaling that the program is structured to support multiple targeted projects rather than a small number of very large efforts. The activity categories are Environment, Natural Resources, and Science and Technology and other Research and Development, reflecting the program blend of conservation outcomes and engineering or operational innovation.

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice, which typically means NMFS may allow a range of applicant types depending on the specific terms, potentially including universities, non-profits, commercial or industry partners, and other organizations capable of conducting gear development, field trials, monitoring, and analysis. Overall, the 2021 BREP opportunity is designed to accelerate workable bycatch-reduction solutions, improve understanding of post-release survival, and produce fishery-ready results that can be translated into management actions and on-the-water improvements.

• 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 "2021 BREP" 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, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 01, 2021. (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 25 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for NOAA NMFS FHQ 2021 2006745

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