Fund Your Fisheries Research & Education Projects!

Overview Information The Department of the Interior through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Subsistence Management, coordinates the Partners for Fisheries Monitoring Program (Partners Program). The Partners Program under the broader category of Alaska Subsistence Management (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 15.636) directly supports and funds fishery biologists, social scientists, natural resource specialists, and educator positions performing duties within tribal or rural organizations in Alaska. Partner positions work to ensure that the priority issues and information needs pertaining to management of subsistence fisheries are addressed by developing and implementing research projects in the Fisheries Resource Monitoring Program (Monitoring Program) and/ or implementing rural student education and internship programs on these projects. They communicate project results to various audiences such as regional organizations and their members, the Federal Subsistence Board, Regional Advisory Councils, and government agencies.

The Office of Subsistence Management, Partners Program invites proposals from eligible applicants for funding to support fishery biologists, social scientists, natural resource specialists, educator positions, or a combination of such positions in their organization. This is the fourth call for proposals in the history of the Partners Program; multiple awards will be offered. Please note requirements unique to this solicitation, as areas of emphasis have changed from previous program cycles. This call outlines the funding opportunity, award information, eligibility information, application and submission information, application review, award administration, and agency contacts.

The solicitation number associated with this call for proposals is FWS # 70181-9- R120. Proposals are due no later than March 2, 2009. I. Funding Opportunity Description The Office of Subsistence Management will develop cooperative agreements to support Partners Program fishery biologists, social scientists, natural resource specialists, and educator positions.

Proposals may focus exclusively on supporting positions as principal and/ or co-investigators, supporting positions to conduct rural education and internship programs, or a combination of both, as long as they are coordinated with project(s) within the Monitoring Program. Positions may be full or part-time. Requests for funding may be up to two years, but must not exceed the project duration approved under the Monitoring Program. The organization receiving the award will work cooperatively with the Office of Subsistence Management, Partners Program.