Citizen science, in which individuals or organizations voluntarily participate in one or more aspects of the scientific process, is one of six NOAA science and technology focus areas. Citizen science has a rich history within NOAA with volunteer observations contributing to our Nation’s prediction and management of weather, oceans, coasts, and fisheries for decades. NOAA supports opportunities for the public to engage with the agency’s mission and address societal needs through science, technology, and innovation. The purpose of this solicitation is to support citizen science projects that can help support federal fisheries stock assessments and climate-ready fisheries management.

Funding will prioritize projects that: provide information that can supplement and/or inform stock assessments or increase understanding of current and/or future impacts of climate change on fish stocks and/or fishing communities. For the purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), all program priorities relating to fishery species, including those related to stock assessments, are for stocks within a federal Fishery Management Plan.

For Fiscal Year 2025, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) anticipates that approximately $600,000 could be made available for the full set of selected citizen science projects. More information is available at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/grant/citizen-science-improved-stock-assessments-and-climate-ready-fisheries-management. 

Application Deadline: Letters of Intent due by September 5, 2024 (optional). Full proposal submissions due November 4, 2024 by 11:59 p.m. ET.