Ecosystem Health and Sustainable Fish Populations Grants: Ecological and Biological Research to Inform Management

The Great Lakes Fisheries Trust offers grants for ecological and biological research aimed at enhancing ecosystem health and sustainable fish populations. These grants support competitive fisheries research, focusing on resilience, sustainability, and stakeholder value. The next funding cycle will open with a request for proposals in late 2026 for the 2027 program year, promoting innovative research and capacity-building efforts within the fisheries sector.

The GLFT provides funding to support fisheries research through competitive grantmaking within established thematic areas and through funder-directed grants. Funded activities include hypothesis-driven research as well as tools, resources, and capacity-building efforts that support the development or use and application of research. The Research request for proposals is released annually in the winter. Preproposals are due in January of each year. Full proposals are accepted by invitation in early spring.The goals of the Trust’s investments in fisheries research are to create a more resilient and stable fish community, increase the sustainable value of the fishery to stakeholders, and foster and increase self-sustaining fish populations.
Ecosystem Health and Sustainable Fish Populations: Ecological and Biological Research to Inform Management
The goals of the Ecological and Biological Research to Inform Management grant program are to create a more resilient and stable fish community, increase the sustainable value of the fishery to stakeholders, and foster and increase self-sustaining fish populations. In2024, the GLFT embarked upon a year-long effort to update its strategic plan. Through that process, the trust updated its Ecological and Biological Research program funding model. The Ecological and Biological Research program request for proposals (RFP) will be open alternate years beginning in 2025. The next RFP is scheduled for release late in 2026 for the 2027 program year.