The Climate and Fisheries Adaptation Program is soliciting proposals to better understand and support the resilience and adaptation of fisheries and fishing communities to rapidly changing climate and ocean conditions. Pending the availability of funding, the funding opportunity will support research projects for up to 3 years and calls for two types of multidisciplinary proposals:
- Type A: focusing on understanding how to identify and evaluate best fisheries management strategies for changing ocean conditions
- Type B: focusing on how climate variability and change impact fishing communities resilience and local adaptation planning.
Type B projects are intended to improve the understanding and enhance the effectiveness of locally determined adaptation planning in frontline fishing communities while being sustainable, equitable, and responsive to community needs.
“Climate change is already having significant impacts on marine species and the many people, businesses and communities that depend on them,” said Kristen Koch, NOAA Fisheries Acting Director of Scientific Programs. “This call for proposals is an important opportunity to develop the information and tools decision-makers urgently need to reduce impacts and increase the resilience of fisheries and fishing communities in a changing climate.”
The Program is a partnership between NOAA Research’s Climate Program Office and NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Science and Technology. It supports research to increase understanding of climate-related impacts on fish stocks and fisheries. It promotes adaptation and resilience of the nation’s valuable fisheries and fishery-dependent communities in a changing climate.
Funded projects may be up to 3 years in duration. Funded researchers form a Community of Practice to share knowledge, insights, and experience that increases the effectiveness of the ongoing projects. Applicants are encouraged to promote diversity throughout the project.
Since 2015, the program has funded 26 collaborative research projects involving colleges and universities, environmental organizations, NOAA labs and science centers, and other entities. The projects have helped address complex issues including:
- Impacts of warming oceans on New England groundfish
- Impacts of shifting fish stock distributions on fishing communities
- How to consider changing ocean conditions in fisheries stock assessments
- How to evaluate the performance of fisheries management strategies under projected future ocean conditions.
- How local fishing communities can better understand and apply vulnerability information to their adaptation planning processes
Funded projects directly support priorities in the NOAA Fisheries Climate Science Strategy, as well as other NOAA and Department of Commerce priorities to advance a climate-ready nation. Letters of intent are due September 1, 2022 and full applications are due November 21, 2022.
Learn more about the Climate and Fisheries Adaptation Program
Learn more and apply for the funding opportunity
