Special Research Grants Program Aquaculture Research

The purpose of the Aquaculture Research program is to support the development of an environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture industry in the U.S. and generate new science-based information and innovation to address industry constraints. Over the long term, results of projects supported by this program may help improve the profitability of the U.S. aquaculture industry, reduce the U.S. trade deficit, increase domestic food security, provide markets for U.S.-produced grain products, increase domestic aquaculture business investment opportunities, and provide more jobs for rural and coastal America.

NIFA will evaluate applications using the evaluation criteria described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. In general, NIFA evaluates applications using a two-part process. First, NIFA screens each application to ensure that it meets the administrative requirements set forth in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. All administrative requirements must be met in order for the application to proceed to the next level of review. Second, a scientific peer-review process is used to technically evaluate applications that have met the administrative requirements using a review panel.

Fiscal year 2025: In Fiscal year 2025, the Special Research grants program supported applied aquaculture projects across the US. These projects have supported a range of industries from seaweed and shellfish, through sturgeon and salmonid aquaculture. They have addressed critical issues in aquaculture health and production and served to enable producers to expand domestic and international markets. These actions were in line with the National Aquaculture Development Plan and the National Strategic Plan for Federal Aquaculture Research. Examples of funded projects are available at the following web address: https://portal.nifa.usda.gov/enterprise-search/ss/1624