Bycatch Hotspots Initiative
The Bycatch Hotspots Initiative by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation supports collaborative, technology-driven networks to help Gulf of Mexico fisheries reduce bycatch through real-time data sharing and scientific mapping.
Funder: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Due Dates: September 4, 2026 (Questions deadline, 12:00 PM ET) | September 10, 2026 (Proposal deadline, 5:00 PM ET)
Funding Amounts: ~$4.4 million total over five years; single contract award for facilitation support; budget must be detailed and appropriate for scope.
Summary: Supports the development and implementation of voluntary, technology-enabled fisheries communication networks in the Gulf of Mexico to reduce bycatch through collaborative stakeholder engagement and real-time data sharing.
Key Information: Only one award will be made; proposals must be submitted electronically by the deadline.
Description
This opportunity, managed by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in partnership with NOAA, seeks a qualified contractor to facilitate a collaborative meeting for fisheries conservation in the Gulf of Mexico. The contract supports the Bycatch Hotspots Initiative, which evaluates and implements voluntary communication networks and mapping tools to help fishing communities avoid bycatch hotspots—areas with high risk of unintended catch. The initiative is grounded in lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and aims to restore fish populations by integrating stakeholder knowledge with environmental and species distribution data. The project is collaborative, voluntary, and confidentiality-focused, prioritizing technology solutions that benefit both commercial and recreational fisheries.
