October 29, 2013 — The following was released by NOAA:
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), in coordination with the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils (Councils), is soliciting monkfish research proposals to utilize 500 Monkfish Days-at-Sea (DAS) that have been set-aside by the Councils to fund monkfish research endeavors through the 2014 Monkfish Research Set-Aside (RSA) Program. No Federal funds are provided for research under this notification. Rather, proceeds generated from the sale of monkfish harvested during a set-aside DAS will be used to fund research activities and compensate vessels that participate in research activities and/or harvest set-aside quota. Projects funded under the Monkfish RSA Program must enhance the knowledge of the monkfish fishery resource or contribute to the body of information on which monkfish management decisions are made. Priority will be given to monkfish research proposals that investigate research priorities identified by the Councils and detailed under the Program Priorities section of this announcement.
A. Program Objective
Amendment 2 to the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) established the Monkfish RSA Program, which sets-aside 500 monkfish DAS annually from the total number of monkfish DAS allocated to limited access monkfish vessels, to address monkfish research priorities identified by the Councils. NMFS, in coordination with the Councils, is soliciting proposals for monkfish research to be conducted under the 2014 Monkfish RSA Program. DAS will be awarded to successful applicants.
B. Program Priorities
Projects funded under an RSA DAS award must enhance understanding of the monkfish fishery resource or contribute to the body of information on which management decisions are made. NMFS and the Councils will give priority to funding research proposals in the following areas. The priorities are listed in order of importance.
2014 Monkfish RSA Program Research Needs and Priorities:
1. Research on monkfish life history focusing on: (a) age and growth, (b) longevity, (c) reproduction, and (d) natural mortality;
2. Migration patterns focusing on: (a) short- and long-term movements with respect to management areas and off-shelf movements, and, (b) habitat use;
3. Research concerning trophic interactions of monkfish with other species and monkfish cannibalism;
4. Cooperative research surveys to fill in gaps in current survey coverage;
5. Research concerning bycatch and discard mortality focusing on: (a) Target species (i.e., monkfish or Northeast multispecies), and (b) non-target species (e.g., monkfish or skate); and
6. Trawl and gillnet gear studies focusing on: (a) Size and/or species selectivity, and, (b) bycatch reduction, including reducing bycatch of and interactions with protected species.
Full proposals must be received and validated by Grants.gov on or before 5 p.m. EST on Monday January 6, 2013.
Please contact Cheryl Corbett with any questions.
Read the full announcement from NOAA