MASGC Funding Opportunities

MASGC commits to interdisciplinary environmental scholarship and community-based natural resources management so that coastal and marine resources are conserved and managed for a sustainable economy and environment. The tools available in support of the MASGC mission are applied interdisciplinary research, communications, education, extension, and legal services using both targeted and cross-cutting approaches. These tools are utilized at local, state, regional, national, and international arenas.

The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium currently supports research in the following strategic areas:

  1. Health and Restoration of Coastal Habitats.
  2. Coastal Community Resiliency and Resource Management.
  3. Seafood Safety and Processing Technology.
  4. Fisheries Ecology and Aquaculture.
  5. Education and Outreach.

Funding in support of these strategic areas is provided by Sea Grant through a biennial omnibus program, small programs development grants, national strategic investments, and fellowships. During proposal development you will be required to submit numerous federal forms. To ease the application process MASGC provides downloadable versions of these forms. The Sea Grant Handbook (1.11 MB PDF) offers administrative guidelines for the preparation, administration, and reporting of proposals to the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium.

Biennial Omnibus Program
From a field of 18 proposals, The Mississippi-Alabama Sea grant Consortium has chosen nine research projects to fund for its next omnibus cycle which will run Feb. 1, 2008 to Jan. 31, 2010. Two of these projects are one-year Program Development projects. Each project was chosen after reviewing several criteria including its relationship to MASGC's strategic plan and the project's significance to its scientific field.

The Winter 2007 issue of the Sea Briefs newsletter offers an overview of the selected projects.

Bottlenose Dolphin Conservation
The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, in partnership with the National Marine Fisheries Service, is pleased to announce a request for proposals aimed at enhancing bottlenose dolphin conservation in the Gulf of Mexico.

The research will focus on innovative and practical projects that seek to enhance bottlenose dolphin conservation by: (1) characterizing various aspects of human interactions (i.e. dolphin tourism, feeding, harassment, etc.) with wild bottlenose dolphins; (2) assessing dolphin depredation on recreational and commercial fisheries; and (3) providing a comprehensive outreach strategy to inform the public of harmful interactions.

The deadline for proposals has passed.

Working Waterfronts
The Alabama Working Waterfronts Coalition in partnership with the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium is seeking proposals for an inventory of water-dependent businesses and associated public and private infrastructure in southwest Alabama.

The successful proposal should include the use of a variety of data collection methods including the use of existing data sets, interviews and surveys. The inventory should include, at a minimum, identification of types of waterfront businesses, identification of water-dependent businesses not directly on the waterfront, public and private navigation and harbor infrastructure and a survey of town, city and county officials to determine if waterfront access is addressed in planning documents. The project outcomes should be compatible with GIS.

MASGC will provide $60,000 in federal funds. There is a non-federal match requirement of 50% of the total federal request. The deadline for proposals has passed.

Program Development
The MASGC has a limited amount of funding available each year for Program Development (PD) projects. The purpose of PD funding is to allow researchers to rapidly respond to an immediate unforeseen opportunity. Requests are generally limited to a maximum of $10,000 in funding and are for a one-year period. PD proposals are accepted by MASGC at any time during the year. These proposals may be peer reviewed. Approval is dependent on the availability of funds and the relevance of the project to the 2006-2010 Strategic Plan.

National Strategic Investments
Requests for proposals are issued by the National Sea Grant Office at various times during the year. These National Strategic Initiatives focus on a specific topic such as minority serving institutions, aquaculture, oysters, technology, or aquatic nuisance species.

Current NSI Funding Opportunities:

  • Gulf Oyster Industry Program (GOIP) RFP
    The National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) is entertaining proposals to participate in innovative research, outreach and demonstration to continue the Gulf of Mexico Oyster Industry Program. Approximately $1 million is available for the Gulf Oyster Industry Program in FY 2005 and a similar amount is expected for FY 2006. Therefore, two-year proposals are being accepted. The Gulf Oyster Industry Program seeks to fund innovative research and outreach that provide focuses on the oyster industry problems of the Gulf Coast.
  • Oyster Disease Research Program
    The ODRP has made significant accomplishments in the areas of disease diagnosis, immune system function of oysters, range and virulence of existing diseases, modeling and prediction of oyster diseases in the natural environment, oyster disease resistance through genetic selection and a variety of other technologies. Even though significant scientific information has been obtained through this work and we now have an oyster that has improved performance and survivability under field conditions; disease episodes can still be severe enough to prevent the culture and natural recovery of oysters. More research is clearly needed to improve the survivability of oysters in U.S. coastal waters and to improve technology for disease management and control.
  • Aquatic Invasive Species Research and Outreach Program
    The National Sea Grant College Program seeks to fund research and outreach projects addressing the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species. The goal of the program is to discover and develop information and tools that can lead to the prevention, detection and control of aquatic invasive species threatening United States coastal, oceanic and Great Lakes communities, resources and ecosystems. The opportunity seeks especially to support NOAA-relevant regional research and outreach priorities identified by the Regional Panels of the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force.

Fellowships
John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship
NOAA Fisheries/Sea Grant Fellowship Program
Sea Grant Industy Fellowship

Additional Funding Opportunities
Throughout the year, MASGC receives notice of additional funding opportunities. This information is provided for your convenience.


MASGC Home
Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium
703 East Beach Drive
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
(228) 818-8836 | Fax (228) 818-8841

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Last modified: 07 February 2008

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