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Copper rockfish in California

Fisheries Innovation Fund

In This Section:

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Fisheries Innovation Fund supports effective participation of fishermen and fishing communities in the implementation of sustainable fisheries in the United States. The Fisheries Innovation Fund houses multiple programs with distinct requests for proposals (RFP) to work towards sustainable fisheries in the United States: an Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program RFP released annually, and a New England Gear Innovation Fund RFP. There is also a Fisheries Innovation Fund RFP that was released annually from 2010 through 2019, and NFWF is exploring opportunities for future years of this RFP.

Partners

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), commercial and recreational fisheries had combined sales impacts of over $253 billion in the United States in 2020. However, some U.S. fisheries are struggling, both biologically and economically. As of 2022, NOAA reported that 48 stocks are categorized as overfished and 24 are categorized as subject to overfishing.

Fisheries Innovation Fund RFP

NFWF launched the Fisheries Innovation Fund in 2010 to foster innovation in fisheries and seafood production in order to sustain livelihoods, working waterfronts and sustainable access to fisheries while rebuilding fish stocks. The most recent Fisheries Innovation Fund RFP was released in 2019 and there are no immediate plans to release another. The fund supports the participation of fishermen and their communities in securing sustainable fisheries in the United States.
Fisheries Innovation Fund funding priorities include bycatch reduction, recreational fisheries and offshore aquaculture, including activities to build community capacity and encourage sustainable use practices. Most projects have originated locally to address needs, challenges and opportunities at the community level. 

Electronic Monitoring and Reporting RFP

The Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program was launched in 2015. The program seeks to advance NOAA’s sustainable fisheries goals to partner with fishermen, stakeholders, state agencies and Fishery Information Networks to systematically integrate technology into fisheries data collection and observations, and streamline data management and use for fisheries management. The program aims to improve the quality, quantity, and timeliness of fisheries-dependent data. Projects awarded under this opportunity catalyze the implementation of electronic technologies for catch and compliance monitoring, and improvements to fishery information systems. 

Since 2015, EMR has awarded more than $32.9 million for 112 projects in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific Coast, Alaska and Hawai‘i. These awards leveraged matching contributions of more than $49.3 million, generating a total conservation impact of $82.2 million.

Major funding for the Fisheries Innovation Fund is provided by NOAA, the Walton Family Foundation and the Kingfisher Foundation. Mitigation funds received through NFWF’s Recovered Oil Fund for Wildlife have also contributed to the program, with grantee organizations and additional public and private funders providing matching funds.

New England Gear Innovation Fund RFP

NFWF launched the New England Gear Innovation Fund RFP in 2023 to support the development and adoption of innovative gear technologies that reduce the risk of lethal or sub-lethal fishing gear entanglement for the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale (NARW). The New England Gear Innovation Fund received funding from the 2023 Consolidate Appropriations Act and represents a partnership between NFWF and NOAA, with additional funding support from Shell. Click here for additional information on the New England Gear Innovation Fund. 

Application Information


Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program 2023 Request for Proposals - CLOSED View Now
Past Webinars and Slideshows View Now
How to Manage Your New Grant Webinar Recording View Now
10 Tips for Grantees View Now
Interim Programmatic Report Guidance View Now
Final Programmatic Report Guidance View Now
Request for Proposals: Contract to Provide Applicant Field Liaison Support for the Fisheries Innovation Fund: Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Grant Program - CLOSED View Now
Request for Proposals: Contract to Measure Fisherman Well-being and Dissemination of Innovative Fisheries Solutions in Alaska - CLOSED View Now
Electronic Monitoring and Reporting Fact Sheet Download the PDF
Fisheries Innovation Fund Fact Sheet Download the PDF
Electronic Monitoring and Reporting 2023 Grant Slate Download the PDF
Electronic Monitoring and Reporting 2022 Grant Slate Download the PDF
Electronic Monitoring and Reporting 2021 Grant Slate Download the PDF
Electronic Monitoring and Reporting 2020 Grant Slate Download the PDF
Electronic Monitoring and Reporting 2019 Grant Slate Download the PDF
Fisheries Innovation Fund 2019 Project List Download the PDF
Electronic Monitoring and Reporting 2018 Grant Slate Download the PDF
Fisheries Innovation Fund 2018 Project List Download the PDF
Electronic Monitoring and Reporting 2017 Grant Slate Download the PDF
Fisheries Innovation Fund 2017 Project List Download the PDF
Electronic Monitoring and Reporting 2015-2016 Project List Download the PDF
Fisheries Innovation Fund 2010-2016 Project List Download the PDF
Fisheries Innovation Fund: Baseline Survey Estimates of Fishermen Well-Being and Diffusion of Innovations in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery and the Northeast Multispecies (Groundfish) Fishery (2021) Download the PDF
Staff Representatives

Manager, Fisheries Conservation

Regional Program Coordinator