NOAA Fisheries is now accepting applicationsfor the Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program.
Projects must address bycatch research priorities by:
- Developing innovative and effective technologies, gear modifications, and/or improving fishing practices in commercial and recreational fisheries to reduce bycatch impacts. Proposals that specifically reduce impacts tocatch share fisheries, protected species (those species listed as part of the NOAA“Species in the Spotlight”campaign), highly migratory species, fish stocks that areoverfished, whereoverfishing is occurring, or are under prohibited species catch limits, or seabirds are particularly encouraged.
- Improving understanding and reduction of post-release and other indirect mortality, including barotrauma, predation, and unaccounted mortality in commercial and recreational fisheries including target and non-target species.
- Determining the degree and nature of interactions and developing techniques to reduce interactions between fishing gears and corals, sponges, and other structure-forming invertebrates.
- Conducting comprehensive international bycatch analyses or research which will inform conservation engineering in U.S. fisheries.
Pre-proposals are due by March 1 with full applications due by April 15, 2016.
For more information, download thecall for proposals or contact derek.orner@noaa.gov, National Bycatch Coordinator.