In June, NOAA Fisheries announced a federal funding opportunity for Atlantic bluefin tuna research. The Bluefin Tuna Research Program (BTRP) is a competitive Federal assistance program that funds projects seeking to increase and improve the working relationship between fisheries researchers from NMFS, state fishery agencies, universities, other research institutions and U.S. fishery interests (recreational and commercial) focusing on Atlantic bluefin tuna.
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 fisheries harvesting and the biology of bluefin tuna, especially regarding the effects of mixing and movement between the eastern and western Atlantic stocks on monitoring stock abundance.
The U.S. is one of the Contracting Parties to the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) which collaborate on the $25 million Atlantic bluefin tuna research program that began in 2012. The program is expected to span 6 years.
Applications must be received on www.grants.gov by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 1, 2016 to be considered for funding.
source: NOAA Fisheries – Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Management Division