The USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) opened up a special research grant program on aquaculture research. The purpose of the Aquaculture Research Program is to support the development of an environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture industry in the U.S. and generate new science-based information and innovation to address industry constraints.

Over the long term, results of projects supported by this program may help improve the profitability of the U.S. aquaculture industry, reduce the U.S. trade deficit, increase domestic food security, provide markets for U.S.-produced grain products, increase domestic aquaculture business investment opportunities, and provide more jobs for rural and coastal America. 

The Aquaculture Research program will fund projects that directly address major constraints to the U.S. aquaculture industry and focus on one or more of the following program priorities: 

• Genetics of commercial aquaculture species.
• Critical disease issues impacting aquaculture species.
• Design of environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture production systems.
• Economic research for increasing aquaculture profitability. 

Proposal deadline is June 3. More information here.