Sea Grant Programs Only - FY2025 Aquaculture Internship Programs

The FY2025 Sea Grant Aquaculture Internship Program, administered by NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), offers funding to Sea Grant Programs to develop hands-on aquaculture internship experiences that support workforce development in the U.S. aquaculture industry. The goal is to provide participants—including students at the high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels, as well as other interested individuals, such as veterans and members of the commercial fishing community—with practical experience in aquaculture operations. These internships are expected to enhance professional skills, increase marketable job skills, and support the development of the aquaculture sector. Internships should involve tasks at aquaculture businesses and facilities, which may include hatcheries, farms, processing plants, and related support industries like feed mills. This funding opportunity offers approximately $1,500,000 for FY2025, with awards ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 per project, subject to the availability of funds. Awarded projects will have a performance period from June 1, 2025, to no later than May 31, 2027. Matching funds are required, with a non-federal cost-share equal to at least 50% of the federal funds requested unless a statutory waiver applies. Sea Grant Programs may apply for or partner in multiple proposals, and successful applications must include partnerships with aquaculture businesses and require participant reporting on their internship experiences. Programs must also include NOAA Sea Grant extension personnel in their outreach and education plans. Only Sea Grant College Programs, Institutional Programs, and Coherent Area Programs are eligible to apply. These programs are encouraged to collaborate with various partners, including academic institutions, aquaculture industry members, state and tribal agencies, NGOs, and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). Federal employees and institutions may participate as unpaid partners but cannot receive funding or contribute matching funds. Additionally, applicants must register in SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons prior to submission. Applications are due by January 29, 2025, via Grants.gov, and must include required forms, a project narrative (max 10 pages), budget, and letters of support from aquaculture business partners. The narrative should provide an overview of the internship program, including recruitment strategies, anticipated tasks, a timeline of activities, expected outcomes, and a plan for public outreach and dissemination. Applicants are also required to submit a Data Management Plan to comply with NOAA’s data-sharing requirements, though projects that do not generate environmental data may request an exemption. Evaluation of applications will consider the project’s relevance to workforce development in aquaculture, technical approach, applicant qualifications, budget appropriateness, and anticipated outcomes. NOAA will give priority to proposals that include MSIs and demonstrate strong community partnerships. Selected applicants must participate in a future National Sea Grant Aquaculture Symposium to share results. For inquiries, applicants should contact NOAA at oar.hq.sg.aquaculture@noaa.gov.