Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program

Promotes improved fishing practices and innovative gear technologies to benefit U.S. fishermen by minimizing bycatch (non-target catch), reducing post-release mortality of non-target species, and minimizing habitat impacts to the extent practicable.

Promotes improved fishing practices and innovative gear technologies to benefit U.S. fishermen by minimizing bycatch (non-target catch), reducing post-release mortality of non-target species, and minimizing habitat impacts to the extent practicable.

Eligible applicants for assistance include State and local governments, including their universities and colleges; U.S. territorial agencies; Federal and State-recognized Indian Tribal governments; private universities and colleges; private profit and nonprofit research and conservation organizations and/or individuals.

This program benefits Federal, State, and interstate marine resource conservation and management agencies; U.S. and foreign commercial and recreational fishing industries; conservation organizations, academic institutions; international and Indian Tribal treaties; private and public research groups; consumers; and the general public.

Funds can be used by recipients to support a wide variety of research and management activities for high- priority marine and estuarine resources, especially for species and/or their habitat currently under, or proposed for future Federal or interjurisdictional management.

Awards are normally for a 12-month period. In some instances, award periods may extend beyond 12 months, or may be completed in less than 12 months. Award funds must be spent in the indicated budget period and are expended in accordance with DOC/NOAA finance and reporting procedures.

A listing of State single points of contact under E.O. 12372 is available at www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/lawsregs/eo.htm.

Proposals may be selected from several sources, e.g., unsolicited proposals, Congressionally-mandated projects, applications received as a result of notices published in the Federal Register. Recipients and sub recipients are subject to all applicable Federal laws and Federal and Departmental policies, regulations, and procedures applicable to Federal financial assistance awards.

Proposals are initially evaluated by the pertinent NMFS office/region/science center, or their component laboratories, and are subject to review for technical merit, soundness of design, competency of the applicant to perform the proposed work, potential contribution of the project to national or regional goals, and appropriateness and reasonableness of proposed costs. Projects recommended for funding will be submitted to the NOAA Grants Management Division for review and approval.

A date range will change depending on the review process. Usually within 180 calendar days from the receipt of a complete and acceptable application but may exceed that timeline

No renewal. However, an approved on-going project can be extended by submission of an amendment request. Multiple year awards of up to five years may be approved. Funding for multi-year projects beyond the first year is contingent upon the availability of program funds in subsequent fiscal years, and the extent to which the recipient meets project objectives and reporting requirements

No formal appeal procedure. If application is unacceptable the reasons are fully stated to the applicant. If the applicant desires to resubmit application, project must be revised in accordance with recommended changes.