Pacific Islands Marine Education and Training Mini Grant Program (US)

Projects are being solicited to improve communication, education, and training on marine resource issues throughout the region and increase scientific education for marine related professions among coastal community residents, including indigenous Pacific islanders, Native Hawaiians, and other underserved communities in the region.

NOAA NMFS is soliciting competitive proposals for grants and cooperative agreements that will increase the sustainability, communication, education, and training on fishing and marine resource issues and increase education for marine-related professions in the Pacific Islands Region (PIR). Projects should prepare communities for employment in marine related professions; increase seafood and fishing safety, marketing, or management; or increase the sustainability of fishing practices through technology improvements or data collection. All projects must be developed with and identify beneficial and appropriate partnerships. These partnerships may include various government agencies (at all levels), non-governmental community organizations (NGOs), traditional and local knowledge practitioners, researchers, or industry. All projects must include partnerships that contribute to the success of the project and build on, or expand relationships in the fishing and marine community.

Priority Areas

• All projects, regardless of priority, must leverage and develop effective partnerships. These partnerships may include: government agencies (island, local, state, or federal), NGOs, local and traditional knowledge practitioners, researchers, academic institutions, and industry.
• Projects must improve communication, education, and training on marine resource issues in the region and increase education for marine-related professions among coastal community residents. If a project meets more than one of the listed priorities, the applicant should list first the priority that most closely reflects the objectives of the proposed project. Other priorities addressed in proposals should then be listed as applicable:
  • Marine Science and Technology: Education and training projects that are focused on preparing community residents for employment in marine related professions, including marine resource conservation and management, marine science, marine technology, and maritime operations.
  • Fisheries and Seafood-related Training: Projects addressing fishery observation, seafood safety and seafood marketing, focused on increasing the involvement of coastal community residents in fishing, fishery management, and seafood-related operations.
  • Outreach: Projects to educate and inform consumers about the quality and sustainability of wild fish or fish products farmed through responsible aquaculture. Projects that promote community education and outreach related to safe fishing and boating practices.
  • Technology: Projects that, with the fishing industry, not only identify methods and technologies that will improve the data collection, quality and reporting, but also increase the sustainability of fishing practices, and ultimately transfer such methods and technologies among fisheries sectors and to other nations in the Western, Northern and Central Pacific.
  • Local and Traditional Knowledge: Projects that enhance science-based management of fishery resources of the region through local and traditional knowledge including Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian knowledge.
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to integrate Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management (EBFM) principles into their project proposals by demonstrating an adaptive, holistic approach to marine resource management and ecosystem resilience.

Funding Information

• Total funding available under this notice is anticipated to be approximately $150,000
• Proposals in excess of $15,000 or below $10,000 are unlikely to be funded
• Approximately 10 to 15 awards are anticipated to be granted under this competition
• Duration: The project period is recommended to be 12 months in duration.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible applicants are individuals, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, commercial organizations, state, local and Indian tribal governments. Federal agencies and their employees, as well as Federal instrumentalities (including employees and members) are not eligible to apply.
• Projects must be conducted within Hawaii, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), or American Samoa.

For more information, visit Grants.gov.