Electronic Monitoring and Reporting (EMR) Grant Program offered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)
In this Member Spotlight we’ll hear from Willy Goldsmith, PhD, of Pelagic Strategies, about the Electronic Monitoring and Reporting (EMR) Grant Program offered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).
What is the primary goal of the Electronic Monitoring and Reporting (EMR) Grant Program offered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)?
Willy Goldsmith, PhD: The broad goal of NFWF’s EMR program is to move the ball forward on systematically integrating technology into fisheries data collection and streamlining fisheries data management. There have been tremendous advances in this realm in recent years, but there are still numerous opportunities for improvement, including for recreational fisheries. Ultimately, these advances can be used to improve the quality, timeliness, and cost-efficiency of inputs into the fisheries science and management process while also empowering fishermen to become more actively involved in resource stewardship, thereby directly benefiting long-term conservation efforts.
Could you elaborate on the types of electronic technologies (ET) and fisheries-related activities that the EMR Grant Program aims to support? What are some examples?
Willy Goldsmith, PhD: The term “electronic technologies” encompasses a wide range of electronic tools that can be used to support fisheries monitoring, and the program encourages applicants to think creatively about how technology could be applied to their specific fishery and issue. Examples of electronic technologies that have been developed in past projects include: electronic reporting such as e-logbooks, tablets, and smartphone apps; electronic monitoring such as onboard cameras; and electronic tools to improve data processing and accessibility. For some additional context, here are the projects that were selected during last year’s grant cycle.
How much funding is available through this grant solicitation, and what is the expected range of grant amounts for successful applicants?
Willy Goldsmith, PhD: NFWF anticipates awarding up to $3.8 million during this grant solicitation. Budgets for most awarded projects tend to fall between $200,000 and $500,000, although projects with budgets that fall outside of that range are certainly eligible.
Who is eligible to apply for the EMR Grant Program? What types of organizations and sectors are encouraged to submit proposals, and are there any ineligible applicants?
Willy Goldsmith, PhD: Eligible projects for the solicitation include those that are focused on U.S. state and federal fisheries, and can involve Tribal, commercial, and/or recreational (including for-hire) participants. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations, state and Territorial government agencies/interstate commissions, local/municipal governments, Tribal governments/organizations, educational institutions, commercial (for-profit) organizations, and international organizations (as long as the project is focused on U.S. fisheries). The program strongly encourages partnerships across these entities whenever possible to maximize project impact.
Because this funding opportunity is a partnership with NOAA Fisheries, federal entities, including regional fishery management councils, are not eligible to apply. However, these entities can be included as (unfunded) partners on projects. Unincorporated individuals are also ineligible.
Could you outline the two major priorities that the EMR Grant Program is focused on? How should proposals address these priorities?
Willy Goldsmith, PhD: NFWF’s EMR Grant Program is focused on two major priorities, which are described in greater detail in the RFP.
The first priority is electronic technology in fishery data collection, which covers a range of efforts to improve reporting and monitoring in fisheries through some of the electronic technologies described above. NOAA Fisheries has developed regional five-year Electronic Technologies Implementation Plans, which can be a helpful resource for prospective applicants to get a sense of what approaches may be most needed/applicable for their fishery/fisheries and region.
The second, perhaps less visible but no less important priority is modernizing data management systems to help ensure the quality and usability of electronically collected data—the information is only as good as its ability to be readily incorporated into the science, management, or fishery business decision-making. In considering potential projects under this priority, applicants should coordinate their efforts closely with data and fishery management entities such as NOAA Fisheries, state agencies, regional councils, and/or regional Fishery Information Networks. Approaches under this priority do not necessarily have to be technical in nature, and could include, for example, synthesizing and communicating best practices and lessons learned across different electronic data collection efforts.
Project ideas that fit under one of these two priorities should generally take one of two approaches: Either 1) to develop, test, and/or pilot innovative ideas to address the challenges of electronic technology implementation/data management; or 2) to implement proven innovations at scale. It is worth noting that this grant program does not support the ongoing administration of EMR programs to meet regulatory requirements.
While the priority fisheries are mentioned (Gulf of Mexico reef fish fishery, the New England groundfish fishery, the West Coast groundfish fishery, and the Alaska halibut and groundfish fisheries), could you clarify if other fisheries beyond the listed ones are eligible to apply for this grant program?
Willy Goldsmith, PhD: Proposals focused on fisheries that occur outside of these fisheries in the U.S. or its territories are certainly eligible and have a strong history of receiving funding. The fisheries you mentioned are considered priority fisheries where NFWF seeks projects working to implement ET solutions at scale, but again work in any U.S. fishery is eligible.
Can you explain the matching contribution requirement for this grant program? How does the 1:1 match work in terms of cash and in-kind contributions?
Willy Goldsmith, PhD: When putting together a budget, applicants are required to have a 1:1 match, which means that for every dollar provided by NFWF for the project, the applicant and/or partners must also provide a dollar. Matching contributions can be both cash and in-kind, with in-kind potentially taking many forms; some examples could include the time of participating fishermen or project staff, donated equipment, or supplies purchased by project partners. NFWF staff are happy to talk through the details of the match requirement, and NFWF also has some limited funds to assist with meeting the match requirement for certain applicants.
When is the proposal submission deadline for the EMR Grant Program?
Willy Goldsmith, PhD: Proposals, including letters of support by project partners/collaborators, are due on Monday, October 16, 2023 by 11:59 pm ET and must be submitted online via NFWF’s EasyGrants system. Because the application process is fairly involved, we encourage applicants to start the process early! NFWF has developed a Tip Sheet to help guide applicants through the process.
Can you tell us about your role in the proposal process and how you plan to engage with prospective applicants?
Willy Goldsmith, PhD: For this EMR application cycle, I am working as a field liaison with NFWF to assist prospective applications with project scoping, identifying partners, and technical/logistical support through the grant application process. If anyone has questions about the grant opportunity or the application process, or just wants to brainstorm potential ideas, please reach out to me by email at wgoldsmith@pelagicstrategies.com or by phone at (617) 763-3340. I look forward to hearing from you!