The Federal Funding Opportunity for the "NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Research Program 2014" has been published on grants.gov. NOAA Sea Grant expects to have up to $3 million available for a national competition to fund new fiscal year 2014 marine aquaculture research projects.

This is part of the overall plan to support the development of environmentally and economically sustainable ocean, coastal or Great Lakes aquaculture.

Topical priorities for this FY 2014 competition are 1) research to inform pending, regulatory decisions on the local, state, or federal level leading to an information product -- such as a tool, technology, template, or model -- needed to make final decisions on a specific question regarding impacts of aquaculture; 2) public-private research partnerships that address specific, current problems that limit a steady supply of marine or Great Lakes fingerlings; and 3) social and/or economic research targeted to aquaculture issues in a larger context. Applicants must describe how their proposed work will rapidly and significantly advance U.S. marine aquaculture development in the short-term (1-2 years after project completion). 

Please bear in mind that funding for this competition is contingent on the Sea Grant program's final Fiscal Year 2014 budget.

Pre-proposals must be received by electronic mail to the National Sea Grant Office by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Feb. 21, 2014. Applications received after the closing dates and times will not be accepted.

Full proposals are due from applicants to the state Sea Grant Program by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 5, 2014.

State Sea Grant Programs must forward all full proposal applications to Grants.gov by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May 30, 2014.