RFAB Grant Program
Forecasted
RFAB Grant Program supports projects for Virginia’s saltwater recreational anglers, funding research, habitat, access, education, enforcement, and stock enhancement to improve fisheries and fishing opportunities.
Funder: Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027 (annual application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Projects normally receive one year of support; multi-year support may be requested
Summary: Supports projects that improve Virginia’s saltwater recreational fisheries through research, habitat, access, education, enforcement, and stock enhancement.
Key Information: Research and data collection projects require a 10% match; facilities/access projects require a 25% hard-dollar match.
Description
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission administers the RFAB Grant Program through the Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund, with advice from the Recreational Fishing Advisory Board. The fund supports work that conserves and enhances finfish taken by recreational anglers, improves fishing opportunities, and supplies information for fisheries management.
Priority areas are education, law enforcement, fishing facilities and access, habitat improvement, research and data collection, and stock enhancement. The board reviews projects for their contribution to recreationally important species and anglers’ opportunities. Research proposals may address data needs for important Virginia finfish species; when the board publishes a request for proposals, it gives funding preference to research topics specified there.
