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The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southeast Region, is seeking proposals under the Marine Fisheries Initiative Program (MARFIN), for research and development projects that optimize the use of fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and off the South Atlantic states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, involving the U.S. fishing industry (recreational and commercial), including fishery biology, resources assessment, socio-economic assessment, management and conservation, selected harvesting methods, and fish handling and processing. This program addresses NOAA's mission goal "Healthy Oceans."

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals to improve populations of focal seabirds through actions that improve survival and reproduction. Seabirds represent a diverse group of birds whose life history cycles are intricately linked to marine and coastal resources. Seabirds forage at sea, often far from breeding colonies; disperse over vast distances; and are both colonial and solitary breeders. The overlap of seabirds and humans on oceanic islands and in the marine environment has driven many species to the brink of extinction. Consequently, a major challenge to effective seabird conservation is to mitigate human-induced threats at multiple temporal and spatial scales; in other words, to protect and restore locations utilized by seabirds throughout their entire life cycle (on both land and at sea). The Seabird Conservation Program is supported by the Pacific Seabird Program Business Plan. Available funding for the Seabird Conservation Program varies between years and depending on implementation needs of the business plan. This request for proposals will award approximately $4,000,000 in support of Pacific seabird conservation efforts in 2020.

The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs' (OES) Office of Conservation and Water (ECW) at the Department of State, announces the Notice of Funding Opportunity ("NOFO") for Mapping Illicit Supply Networks to Combat Conservation Crimes at their Convergence, to work with developing countries and partners to gather data and build capacity to identify, analyze, and map the illicit networks associated with conservation crimes and the areas of convergence among them .

The purpose of this document is to advise the public that NOAA/NOS/National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)/Competitive Research Program (CRP) is soliciting proposals for the Prevention, Control and Mitigation of Harmful Algal Blooms (PCMHAB) and HAB Socioeconomics Research Programs. Funding is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2020 Federal appropriations. It is anticipated that projects funded under this announcement will have a September 1, 2020 start date.

The Antarctic Sciences Section (ANT) of the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) supports cutting-edge research that (1) expands fundamental knowledge of the Antarctic and the natural laboratory it represents across a range of disciplines, (2) improves understanding of interactions between the Antarctic and Southern Ocean region and Earth system, and (3) utilizes the unique characteristics of the Antarctic continent as an observing platform. The U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) supports scientific research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean with logistics provided by OPP’s Antarctic Infrastructure and Logistics Section (AIL). Antarctic fieldwork is supported only for research that must be performed, or is best performed, in Antarctica. ANT encourages research, using existing samples, data, and models, that does not require fieldwork. ANT also encourages research that crosses and combines, disciplinary perspectives and approaches.

The Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is offering a cooperative agreement for the study BOEM-MARINe (Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network) to provide continued long-term monitoring of rocky intertidal habitats and species adjacent to OCS oil and gas operations in the Pacific Region. The purpose of this study is to provide the basis for evaluating cumulative impacts to the shoreline from OCS activities, especially accidental oil spills, and will be used to provide a base-line to assess dampening of waves from potential offshore wave facilities. Detecting impacts to a resource requires monitoring and the rocky intertidal areas established by the MARINe represent over 20 years of continuous monitoring adjacent to OCS facilities off southern California. This announcement is specifically to announce intent to undertake the project: BOEM-MARINe, that is open to the University of California, Santa Cruz, via the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. The award will be a cooperative agreement. This involves substantial involvement by BOEM scientists in various aspects of study development and/or study conduct. The award is premised on receipt of an acceptable proposal. This is not an open solicitation for proposals.

Launched in 2008 as a partnership between Covanta, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Marine Debris Program, Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc., and NFWF, the program seeks to provide a cost-free solution that allows fishermen to dispose of old, derelict, or unusable fishing gear, with the goal of reducing the amount of gear that ends up in and around  costal waterways. Under this RFP, grants will be awarded to programs that target U.S. coastal waters, with priority given or areas that have been identified for derelict fishing gear prevention, reduction, and gear technology innovation in state or regional plans, or as part of species or habitat conservation plans. Priority locations include areas of the Gulf of Maine that have been identified as priority habitat for North Atlantic right whales; the Chesapeake Bay, with a focus on blue crab habitat;  the Puget Sound, with a focus on killer whale and Chinook salmon habitat; and within the borders of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument in Hawaii.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) through the Marine Minerals Program (MMP) is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity to conduct research to serve the public interest in offshore sand resources, coastal restoration, coastal resiliency and to investigate the long-term recovery of benthic and fish communities following dredging of sand resources within Ship Shoal in the Gulf of Mexico. The objectives of this study are to examine the relationship of human disturbance to ecosystem services in offshore sand shoal habitats in the Ship Shoal borrow area and nearby control sites off Louisiana. Further, to determine if there are functional differences in control site and borrow sites (pre- and post-dredging) by examining species distribution, diversity, habitat use, population dynamics and rate of recovery of benthic habitats. If so, investigate if these differences correlate with biophysical differences (grain size, flow characteristics). Finally, determine if there are regional differences in recovery (Gulf of Mexico vs. Atlantic). Section 1346 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) mandates the conduct of environmental and socioeconomic studies needed for the assessment and management of environmental impacts on the human, marine, and coastal environments which may be affected by oil and gas or other mineral development.

This is an announcement for issuing a single source financial assistance award to the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game ¿ Division of Ecological Restoration (MADER). This announcement is for notification purposes only. The intent of the award to be implemented in Falmouth, Massachusetts is to remove two small dams, restore a former commercial cranberry bog to natural wetland and riverine habitats, and replace an undersized and failing stream crossing (culverts) on a heavily traveled road with a larger, safer structure. The proposed project complements the first dam removal on the Coonamessett River that was completed in 2017, and includes the removal of the second dam from the ocean, replacement of the failing John Parker Road/Coonamessett River crossing, and restoration of floodplain wetlands. The existing road crossing consists of three two-foot diameter culverts, two of which have collapsed and no longer function. When complete, the entire project will provide improved public safety and enhanced infrastructure resiliency, while concurrently providing flood protection for the road, improved water quality, and restored fish passage. The dam removal and the replaced stream crossing will provide full access for migratory (alewife, blueback herring, American eel) and resident fish to 2.2 miles of free-flowing river, provide fish access to 158 acres of pond habitat for spawning under a range of flow conditions, restore 4,600 feet of stream channel, and restore 56 acres of wetlands.

Complete information on this RFI can be found on the EERE Exchange website - https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/ The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) is seeking feedback on its proposed "Waves to Water" prize via this Request for Information (RFI). The Waves to Water prize seeks to address water security and energy needs in remote and coastal communities through small, modular, cost-competitive desalination systems that use the power of the ocean to provide potable drinking water. The objective of this effort is to develop technology solutions that harness ocean energy to desalinate water. Through an anticipated multi-phased contest, the prize seeks to accelerate an innovation cycle timeline that can typically take years and support new innovators and organizations seeking to pair desalination systems with marine energy. Responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically to WPTOPrizes@ee.doe.gov no later than 5:00pm (ET) on March 15, 2019. Complete information on this RFI can be found on the EERE Exchange website - https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/

Through the program, grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded to organizations with projects that support sustainable fishing policy and practices and marine protected areas on a global scale; there are no geographic restrictions. Priority will be given to organizations that want to make a lasting difference and share the foundation's aims and principles.

NOAA's Bay Watershed Education and Training Program (B-WET) is an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant, experiential learning focused on K-12 students and their classroom teachers. This competitive grant program promotes Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences ("MWEEs"), B-WET's signature methodology which include multi-stage activities, in the classroom and outdoors, to increase environmental literacy of all participants. New England B-WET is one of NOAA's seven (7) regional, B-WET environmental education programs. New England B-WET promotes high quality environmental education, fosters innovative programs, and encourages capacity-building and environmental education partnerships within the six New England States: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Successful projects advance ocean, climate, and other environmental literacy goals and incorporate the goals of the NOAA Education Strategic Plan (https://noaa.gov/explainers/noaa-education-strategic-plan) through (1) student, hands-on environmental education in New England watersheds and (2) formal kindergarten through

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) through the Marine Minerals Program (MMP) is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity to conduct research to serve the public interest in offshore sand resources, coastal restoration, coastal resiliency, and to meet the MMP and Gulf States¿ goal of a Gulf-wide Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) sediment inventory. The overall goal of this cooperative agreement is to work with Gulf States to recover legacy geological and geophysical data that will ultimately provide for development of an offshore sediment resources inventory. One of the primary objectives is to coordinate with all 5 Gulf States and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to develop a Gulf-Wide Sediment Inventory program for funding under a future opportunity such as the RESTORE Act Funded Priorities List. This funding is available to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). This is not an open solicitation for proposals. The OCSLA (43 USC 1345)authorizes the use of cooperative agreements with affected States to meet the requirements of OCSLA, including sharing of information, joint utilization of available expertise, formation of joint monitoring arrangements to carry out applicable Federal and State laws, regulations, and stipulations relevant to outer continental shelf operations both onshore and offshore. All awards are premised on receipt of an acceptable proposal.

The National Sea Grant College Program was enacted by U.S. Congress in 1966 (amended in 2008, Public Law 110-394) to support leveraged federal and state partnership that harness the intellectual capacity of the nation's universities and research institutions to solve problems and generate opportunities in coastal communities. The 2019 NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowship Program in Marine Resource Economics expects to award one new Ph.D. Fellowship each year to students who are interested in careers related to the development and implementation of quantitative methods for assessing the economics of the conservation and management of living marine resources. This fellowship can provide support for up to three years. Fellows will work on thesis problems of public interest and relevance to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) under the guidance of NMFS mentors at participating NMFS Science Centers or Offices. The NMFS-Sea Grant Fellowship in Marine Resource Economics meets NOAA's Healthy Oceans goal of "Marine fisheries, habitats, biodiversity sustained with healthy and productive ecosystems." The expected annual award per Fellow will be $48,000 (Federal plus matching funds), jointly funded by NOAA Fisheries and Sea Grant.

The NOAA/OAR/Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) is soliciting proposals for studies investigating Ocean acidification monitoring strategies that would offer an observing system design that best characterizes and tracks Ocean acidification within U.S. Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs) optimized towards characterizing the conditions most relevant to ecologically and economically important marine species. Funding is contingent upon the availability of Federal appropriations. It is anticipated that projects funded under this announcement will have a September 1, 2019 start date.

The purpose of this document is to advise the public that NOAA/NOS/National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science/Competitive Research Program, in partnership with NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, is soliciting proposals under the Deep Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies Program for a project up to four years in duration to conduct research to improve the understanding of mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) in American Samoa. MCEs are characterized by the presence of light-dependent corals and associated communities typically found at depths from 30-40 m and extending to over 150 m in some tropical and subtropical regions. MCEs may be regarded as extensions of shallow coral ecosystems including sharing common species, but also contain species unique to mesophotic depths. This information will be used to improve the ability of resource managers to proactively develop strategies to manage and protect poorly understood mesophotic coral ecosystems. Funding is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2019 Federal appropriations. If funds become available for this program, one project is expected to be supported for up to four years, with an approximate annual budget of up to $600,000.

The purpose of this document is to advise the public that NOAA/NOS/National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science/Competitive Research Program, in partnership with NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, is soliciting proposals under the Regional Ecosystem Prediction Program for a project up to five years in duration to conduct research to improve the understanding of population connectivity of key mesophotic coral ecosystem species in the Hawaiian Archipelago. This information will be used to improve the ability of resource managers to proactively develop strategies to manage and protect poorly understood mesophotic coral ecosystems and provide insight into regional ecosystem connectivity. Funding is contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 2019 Federal appropriations. If funds become available for this program, one project is expected to be supported for up to five years, with an approximate annual budget of up to $1,000,000.

The purpose of this document is to advise the public that NOAA/NOS/National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)/Competitive Research Program (CRP) is soliciting proposals for the Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms (MERHAB) and The Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) Research Programs

The purpose of this document is to advise the public that NOAA/NOS/National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)/Competitive Research Program is soliciting proposals for the Ecological Effects of Sea Level Rise Program (EESLR). This solicitation is to improve adaptation and planning in response to regional and local effects of sea level rise and coastal inundation through targeted research on key technologies, natural and nature-based infrastructure, physical and biological processes, and model evaluation. The overall goal of EESLR is to facilitate informed adaptation planning and coastal management decisions through a multidisciplinary research program that results in integrated models and tools of dynamic physical and biological processes capable of evaluating vulnerability and resilience under multiple SLR, inundation, and management scenarios.

The NOAA Marine Debris Program (MDP), authorized in the Marine Debris Act (33 U.S.C. 1951-1958), provides funding to support eligible organizations to conduct research directly related to marine debris through field, laboratory, and modeling experiments. The MDP invites applications for research funding in any of three areas of focus: research that explores the ecological risk associated with marine debris and determines debris exposure levels; research that examines the fate and transport of marine debris; and/or research that quantifies habitat impacts resulting from marine debris and the gains in ecosystem services that result when debris is removed. Projects may address one or more of these research priorities and should be original, hypothesis-driven projects that have not previously been addressed to scientific standards. Successful proposals through this solicitation will be funded through cooperative agreements. Funding of up to $1,500,000 is expected to be available for Marine Debris Research grants in Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19). Typical awards will range from $150,000 - $250,000. Funding for this grant competition comes through the NOAA Marine Debris Program as appropriations to the Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service.