Bluefin Tuna Research Program
🏛 DOC NOAA - ERA Production (DOC-DOCNOAAERA)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 18, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for advancing bluefin tuna fisheries research through science-based management. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, commercial organizations, individuals, and state/local/tribal governments. Federal agencies and foreign governments cannot apply. Proposals demonstrating collaboration with ICCAT's Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Research Program are strongly encouraged.
Research must contribute to understanding bluefin tuna abundance, biology, movement, and mixing between Atlantic populations. Awards support multi-year partnerships and international research coordination.
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Program description
The objective of the program is to provide a basis for advancing science-based fisheries management for Atlantic bluefin tuna. Such advancement will depend upon improvements in understanding of the fisheries, total abundance, and biology of bluefin tuna, especially regarding the effects of mixing and movement between the eastern and western Atlantic populations. Contracting Parties to the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), of which the US is one, and other partners have embarked upon a multi-year research program on bluefin tuna as a step toward improving ICCAT’s science-based management of Bluefin fisheries. Research sponsored under this funding opportunity represents a contribution to this partnership. Proposals that demonstrate collaborations with the ICCAT Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Research Program and other ICCAT partners are strongly encouraged.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative/Research Proposal
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Curriculum Vitae (key personnel)
- Letters of Commitment (from ICCAT partners/collaborators)
- Institutional Biosafety/Environmental compliance documentation
Program contact
- 👤 Keisha Trent Grantor
- 📧 Dax.Ruiz@noaa.gov
- 📞 3016281449
Funding track record
No recent recipient data available for CFDA 11.058 in our database.
This can happen for newer programs, programs that use non-standard award types (loans, direct payments, fellowships), or those funded through sub-agencies under different codes.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 11.058). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2026 est. | $1,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Higher education institutions, nonprofits, commercial organizations, individuals, state/local/tribal governments. Federal agencies and foreign governments are ineligible.
What research does this grant fund?
Atlantic bluefin tuna biology, abundance, movement, and population mixing. ICCAT partnership collaboration is strongly encouraged.
What is the award range?
Awards range from $25,000 to $300,000. The total funding pool is $600,000.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing is required for this grant.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is December 31, 2026. Funding is distributed through cooperative agreements.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize collaboration with ICCAT partners and existing bluefin tuna research programs. Standalone proposals are less competitive.
- Focus on science-based management applications. Show how findings support ICCAT fisheries decisions.
- Clearly explain the research contribution to understanding Atlantic population movement and mixing dynamics.
- Identify specific gaps in current bluefin tuna knowledge your project addresses. Reference recent ICCAT research priorities.
- Build partnerships with international collaborators early. Coordinated multi-institution proposals are preferred.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Ignoring ICCAT partnership requirements. Proposals without demonstrated collaboration with ICCAT or affiliated researchers are typically rejected. Vague management applications. Failing to connect research outcomes to specific fisheries management needs reduces competitiveness. Unrealistic budgets. Research timelines and costs must align with bluefin tuna field season constraints.
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