Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS SE 2016 2004533
Apply for NOAA NMFS SE 2016 2004533
- 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 "Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.433 Marine Fisheries Initiative.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 21, 2015 and posted on Jul 21, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 2, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $175,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: City or township governments Individuals County governments State governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Special district governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN) is a National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Region funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of Commerce that supports applied research and development projects aimed at improving how marine fisheries are used and managed. The program is designed to generate practical, industry-relevant results that help optimize fisheries across a defined geographic footprint: the Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and waters off the South Atlantic states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. A core feature of MARFIN is that projects are expected to involve the U.S. fishing industry, including both commercial and recreational sectors, so that funded work reflects real operational needs and can be adopted in the field.
The scope of projects MARFIN supports is broad but clearly centered on fisheries science, management, and innovation. NMFS is looking for proposals in areas such as fishery biology and ecology, resource assessment and monitoring, socio-economic assessment of fisheries and fishing communities, and management and conservation approaches that improve sustainability and compliance. The opportunity also highlights more operational and technology-focused work, including evaluation or development of selected harvesting methods, as well as fish handling and processing improvements that can reduce waste, improve product quality, or increase efficiency and value. Taken together, the program is meant to bridge the gap between research and on-the-water application, with a direct line to better stewardship and better outcomes for fisheries-dependent communities.
This opportunity is aligned with NOAA's mission goal of Healthy Oceans, which signals an emphasis on maintaining or improving ecosystem health while supporting sustainable use. In practical terms, that typically means proposals should show how the work will contribute to sound science for decision-making, improved stock assessments, reduced impacts on habitats or non-target species, improved economic performance without undermining sustainability, or better management tools and data streams. Because the program explicitly references optimization of fisheries use, proposals that demonstrate measurable benefits, realistic implementation pathways, and clear relevance to fisheries in the covered regions tend to fit the intent of the funding.
The funding mechanism for MARFIN includes both grants and cooperative agreements, indicating that NMFS may have varying levels of involvement depending on the project. The opportunity was categorized as discretionary funding, within the activity category of environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development. For this particular posting (Funding Opportunity Number NOAA NMFS SE 2016 2004533; CFDA 11.433), NMFS anticipated making about six awards, with an estimated total program funding level of $2,000,000. Individual award sizes were expected to fall between a floor of $100,000 and a ceiling of $175,000, which positions the program for mid-sized applied projects rather than very small pilots or large multi-year centers.
A notable aspect is that there was no cost sharing or matching requirement listed, which lowers the barrier for organizations that may not have access to significant non-federal funds. Eligibility was broad and included state, county, and local governments; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments; individuals; public and private institutions of higher education; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (with the caveat that some nonprofit categories are described as "other than institutions of higher education"). This wide eligibility supports participation from universities, research groups, community organizations, and government partners, as well as qualified individuals, as long as the proposed work meets the program goals and requirements.
In terms of timing, the opportunity was posted on July 21, 2015, with an application closing date of October 2, 2015, and an archive date of November 1, 2015. While those dates indicate this specific announcement is historical, the summary captures the program's structure and priorities as presented in the posting. For access issues related to the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Robert Sadler at (727) 551-5760.
MARFIN (Marine Fisheries Initiative) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the Marine Fisheries Initiative (MARFIN)?
MARFIN is a National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Southeast Region funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of Commerce. It supports applied research and development projects intended to improve how marine fisheries are used and managed, with an emphasis on practical, industry-relevant results.
Which federal agency runs this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), specifically the Southeast Region, within the U.S. Department of Commerce.
What is the main purpose of MARFIN funding?
The purpose is to fund applied work that produces practical outcomes that can be used in real fisheries operations and management. The program is meant to bridge research and on-the-water application to improve stewardship and outcomes for fisheries-dependent communities.
What geographic areas does MARFIN focus on?
MARFIN is focused on fisheries within the Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and waters off the South Atlantic states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Does MARFIN require involvement from the fishing industry?
Yes. A core feature described in the opportunity is that projects are expected to involve the U.S. fishing industry, including both commercial and recreational sectors, to ensure the work reflects operational needs and can be adopted in the field.
What types of projects are considered a good fit?
The opportunity describes a broad scope centered on fisheries science, management, and innovation. Example areas include fishery biology and ecology, resource assessment and monitoring, socio-economic assessment of fisheries and fishing communities, and management and conservation approaches intended to improve sustainability and compliance.
Are technology and operational improvements eligible topics?
Yes. The announcement also highlights operational and technology-focused work, including evaluation or development of selected harvesting methods and fish handling and processing improvements that reduce waste, improve product quality, or increase efficiency and value.
How does MARFIN relate to NOAA's mission goals?
The opportunity is aligned with NOAA's mission goal of Healthy Oceans. As presented, this signals an emphasis on maintaining or improving ecosystem health while supporting sustainable use.
What kinds of outcomes does MARFIN appear to prioritize?
Based on the description, proposals are expected to show relevance to sound science for decision-making and practical benefits such as improved stock assessments, reduced impacts on habitats or non-target species, improved economic performance without undermining sustainability, or better management tools and data streams.
What funding instruments are used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The opportunity includes both grants and cooperative agreements. This suggests NMFS may have varying levels of involvement depending on the project and the selected instrument.
Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?
Yes. The posting was categorized as discretionary funding within an activity category that includes environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development.
How many awards were expected to be made?
For this specific posting, NMFS anticipated making about six awards.
What was the total estimated funding available?
The estimated total program funding level for this posting was $2,000,000.
What was the expected range of individual award amounts?
Individual award sizes were expected to range from $100,000 to $175,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed in the information provided for this posting.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as broad. It included state, county, and local governments; special district governments; federally recognized tribal governments; individuals; public and private institutions of higher education; and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (with some nonprofit categories described as "other than institutions of higher education").
Can individuals apply under this opportunity?
Yes. Individuals were included among the eligible applicant types in the provided eligibility summary.
Can nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status apply?
Yes. The eligibility description included nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status, with some nonprofit categories described as "other than institutions of higher education."
Is this specific announcement still open?
No. The provided dates indicate this specific posting is historical: it was posted July 21, 2015, had a closing date of October 2, 2015, and an archive date of November 1, 2015.
What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?
The posting date was July 21, 2015. The application closing date was October 2, 2015. The archive date was November 1, 2015.
How is this opportunity identified (FON and CFDA)?
The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) listed was NOAA NMFS SE 2016 2004533, and the CFDA number provided was 11.433.
Who is the point of contact for access issues related to the full announcement?
The listed point of contact was Robert Sadler, reachable at (727) 551-5760, for access issues related to the full announcement.
What regions or fisheries should applicants focus on to match program intent?
Based on the description, proposals should clearly connect to fisheries in the covered regions (Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and South Atlantic waters off NC, SC, GA, and FL) and show how results would be relevant and usable for industry and management within those areas.
What makes a proposal align with the program's "applied" emphasis?
The posting emphasizes applied research and development with practical, industry-relevant results. Based on that framing, strong alignment would include measurable benefits, a realistic pathway for implementation, and clear on-the-water relevance, including participation from the fishing industry.
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