USA - NOAA Opens Two Competitive Grants Competitions for Aquaculture; NOAA Fisheries Finance Funding Available to Aquaculture Businesses

The NOAA Aquaculture Program and the NOAA National Sea Grant Office have announced two competitive grants competitions with applications due by May 25, 2010.

The first, the Aquaculture Extension and Technology Transfer national grants competition, will make up to $4.8 million in competitive grant funds available to enhance aquaculture extension - including technology transfer - to support the development of environmentally and economically sustainable ocean, coastal or Great Lakes aquaculture. Applicants to this competition can propose new aquaculture extension or technology transfer projects, new or increased personnel capacity in aquaculture extension or technology transfer, or a combination of the two.

The second competition, the 2010 Aquaculture Research Program, will make up to $6 million available to fund aquaculture research projects as part of the overall plan to support the development of environmentally and economically sustainable ocean, coastal or Great Lakes aquaculture by funding research, outreach, and management.

For additional information on both of these opportunities, search for 'aquaculture' at grants.gov or contact the NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Program Manager Gene Kim at gene.kim@noaa.gov.  Applications for both opportunities are due to grants.gov by May 25, 2010.  
The NOAA Aquaculture Program and the NOAA Fisheries Financial Services Division announced the availability of federal financial assistance through the agency's Fisheries Finance Program. The Finance Program provides long-term direct loans for equipment purchases, debt refinancing, or the financing of fisheries- or aquaculture-related facilities. Aquaculture businesses are eligible for loans for capital construction and certain other investment costs.
The full announcement and details can be found on the Federal Register website.  Additional information.