Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0005214
The Department of State, through the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), offered a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Fisheries Management and Governance in U.S. Free Trade Agreement Countries" (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0005214). The program is designed to strengthen how fisheries are managed and governed in countries that have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States, with an emphasis on practical improvements that support sustainable fishing and rule-based oversight. The funding is provided under CFDA 19.017 and is categorized under the Environment funding activity area, signaling its focus on conservation outcomes and improved natural resource governance rather than commercial expansion.
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, meaning the Department of State anticipated active involvement in shaping or overseeing the project during implementation, not just passively issuing funds. OES planned to make either one award up to USD 500,000 total or two awards up to USD 250,000 each, with up to two expected awards. The opportunity references FY 2017 ESF funding (Economic Support Fund), indicating the money comes from a foreign assistance account typically used to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives by building partner capacity, improving governance, and supporting stability, including in natural resource sectors where weak controls can drive corruption or conflict.
The work supported by the grants centers on three connected priorities. First, the program aims to improve science-based fisheries management, which generally involves strengthening the data and analytical foundations used to set catch limits, define seasons, manage gear types, and protect sensitive habitats or spawning areas. In practice, this can include stock assessments, improving data collection at landing sites, integrating ecosystem considerations into management decisions, and building institutional capacity to translate scientific findings into enforceable regulations and management plans. The underlying goal is to move fisheries decision-making away from ad hoc or politically driven choices and toward methods grounded in evidence, transparency, and long-term sustainability.
Second, the opportunity prioritizes improvements to monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS), the operational backbone that makes fisheries rules meaningful. MCS typically includes on-the-water and in-port inspections, patrol and enforcement coordination, observer programs, electronic monitoring, vessel tracking tools such as VMS, catch documentation, and stronger investigative and case management processes. By improving MCS, partner countries can better ensure compliance with their fisheries regulations, reduce overfishing, and strengthen confidence that legal operators are not being undercut by those who violate the rules.
Third, a major focus is combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a global problem that undermines fish stocks, deprives governments of revenue, distorts markets, and can be linked to transnational crime. The notice highlights support for vessel registries and fisheries information-sharing systems in particular. Strong vessel registration systems help authorities establish vessel identity and ownership, prevent vessel "flag hopping" or identity fraud, and make it harder for IUU actors to hide behind incomplete records. Information-sharing systems can improve coordination within a country and across borders by enabling agencies to exchange data on vessel activity, licensing status, compliance history, and suspected violations, which is crucial in regions where vessels operate across multiple jurisdictions.
Key administrative details include a creation date of June 15, 2018, and an original closing date of July 29, 2018. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility specifics referenced in the full announcement text. Overall, the opportunity is structured to fund one or two fairly targeted capacity-building projects that measurably strengthen fisheries management institutions, enforcement capability, and anti-IUU infrastructure in U.S. FTA partner countries, especially through better science, stronger compliance systems, and modernized vessel and information management tools.Apply for SFOP0005214
- The Department of State, Bureau of Oceans - Int. Environmental - Scientific in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fisheries Management and Governance in U.S. Free Trade Agreement Countries" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.017.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 15, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 29, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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