Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Sea Grant Biennial Request for Proposals

WHOI Sea Grant requests proposals from academic, research, and educational institutions in Massachusetts for two-year projects in line with the following focus areas: healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and resilient communities and economies. The following crosscutting themes will also be considered: climate change, environmental literacy and workforce development, and diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility. Find more information in the WHOI Sea Grant Strategic Plan and a copy of the RFP here.

Deadline: Pre-proposals due January 24, 2025, 4:30 PM ET

New Hampshire Sea Grant Biennial Request for Proposals

NH Sea Grant solicits proposals for one or two year marine and coastal research and education projects relating to the following focus areas: sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, healthy coastal ecosystems, resilient communities and economies, and environmental literacy and workforce development. Find more information about these priorities in the NH Sea Grant 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. An information session will be held on January 31 at 4:30 at UNH's flagship Durham campus. A recording of a previous information session is also available online. Find more information and a copy of the RFP here.

Deadline: Pre-proposals due February 6, 2025, 5:00 PM ET

Rhode Island Sea Grant Request for Proposals

Rhode Island Sea Grant has issued a Request for Proposals for research projects of up to 2 years that align with the program's thematic areas: healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and resilient communities and economies. Find more information about these priorities in the RI Sea Grant 2024-2027 Strategic Plan. An informational meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, January 13 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM. Find more information and a copy of the RFP here.

Deadline: Pre-proposals due February 14, 2025, 5:00 PM ET

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sea Grant Request for Proposals

The MIT Sea Grant anticipates a FY26-28 Request for Proposals to open later this month. The Core RFP will be posted to this informational webpage. Proposals from the following areas of research are welcomed: sustainable agriculture and seafood processing, offsetting climate impacts, tracking and preventing impacts of marine debris, ocean applications of biotechnology, engineering for ocean uses, and decarbonization of fisheries and the seafood industry.

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia

The US EPA's SWIFR grants will award $20 million to federally recognized tribes and intertribal consortia to implement the building of circular economy for all strategy series, improve local municipal recycling and other post-consumer materials management programs, and make improvements to local waste management systems. Learn more here.

Deadline: March 14, 2025, 11:59 PM ET

First Round of Projects Announced Under Nationwide Fishing Trap Removal, Assessment, and Prevention (TRAP) Program

William and Mary's Batten School and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science announces eleven new marine debris removal projects focusing on derelict fishing gear supported by funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Projects were selected in coordination with the NOAA Marine Debris Program through a competitive, rigorous review process. In the northeast, funds were awarded to Oceanswide based in Gouldsboro, Maine. Cornell Cooperative Extension also received funding for work in Long Island Sound. Find more information about the awards made in this blog post.

Massachusetts Derelict Fishing Gear Measure Becomes Law

New language included in the bill H.5100, An Act Relevant to strengthening Massachusetts' economic leadership signed into law on November 20, 2024, establishes a legal framework that permits the Division of Marine Fisheries to develop and implement new regulations to facilitate the systemic removal of derelict fishing gear debris while respecting active gear and other private property concerns. Read more in this press release by the Office of Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), and find a copy of the bill here.

NOAA Announces the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-Inflation Reduction Act (BIL-IRA) Awards Explorer

To help the public and policymakers learn about investments made through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, NOAA announces the BIL-IRA Awards Explorer. The Explorer displays grants and cooperative agreements made over three years to help communities across the country restore coastal and marine habitats, address public safety, create jobs, and bolster resilience to climate change. Visit the Explorer to check out investments in your community and across the nation!

US EPA Releases National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution

The US EPA announces the National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, a report outlining opportunities for action to protect communities from the impacts of plastic pollution and waste. The report also describes additional actions that can be taken by government agencies, non-profits, businesses, and communities to prevent plastic pollution. This resource is the final part of a three-part series, Building a Circular Economy for All.

US EPA Announces Escaped Trash Risk Map

The US EPA's Trash Free Waters program recently released the new Escaped Trash Risk Map in collaboration with the University of Georgia and Sea Education Association. This resource displays estimated trash density down to the scale of one square kilometer. Zooming out to the river basin scale, you can find a count of total litter items, a list of top litter items, and a count of litter items in the floodplain at risk of becoming escaped. Summary data of microplastic concentrations in some freshwater systems is also available. 

NOAA Marine Debris Program Announces SciScoop Research Newsletter

Looking to keep up with research activities of the Marine Debris Program? The Science Team has just launched their newsletter, SciScoop, which will feature team activities and highlights including final results from Marine Debris Program-funded research and recent publications, as well as our team’s involvement in various workshops and conferences throughout the year. Click here to get the scoop!

NOAA Marine Debris Program Announces the Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project Nationwide Survey

The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce the launch of the Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project Nationwide Survey, conducted in partnership with 1stMission LLC, and made possible with funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This survey, the first conducted by NOAA at this scale, will help answer currently unaddressed questions, compare the amount of marine debris across regions, determine targets, and inform strategies for marine debris prevention and mitigation. Additionally, the survey will address a recommendation identified in a 2022 National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine study, required by the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act and funded by the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Learn more here.

National Marine Fisheries Service-Sea Grant Joint Fellowship

Applications are now open for the National Marine Fisheries Service-Sea Grant Fellowship Program. The fellowship provides three years of support to Ph.D. students in the areas of ecology, ecosystem ecology, population dynamics, and other related fields of study. Students should submit applications to a Sea Grant Program of their interest. Find more information here.

Deadline: January 23, 2025, 5:00 PM ET

2025 Coastal Management Fellowship Program

The NOAA Office for Coastal Management is recruiting candidates for the Coastal Management Fellowship Program, providing on-the-job training and education in coastal resources management for post graduate students. In turn, fellows provide technical assistance to the programs they work with, including coastal management agencies in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The two-year fellowship will begin in August 2025. Find more information about the needs of each host agency here.

Deadline: January 24, 2025

NOAA Undergraduate Scholarships

The NOAA Office of Education student scholarship programs provide opportunities for undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience while pursuing research and educational training in NOAA-mission sciences. The Hollings and José E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions Undergraduate Scholarship share a common application and students who are eligible for both programs are encouraged to apply to both. Learn more here.

Deadline: January 31, 2025

Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship

The Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship provides a one-year, paid experience to graduate students to work on issues related to coastal, marine, and Great Lakes science and policy in offices within the executive and legislative branches of the government in Washington, D.C. Prospective applicants are encouraged to talk to their local Sea Grant program at least one month prior to applying. Find more information about the program and eligibility criteria here.

Deadline: February 19, 2025