Fish farming, also known as aquaculture, is a fast-paced branch of the agricultural industry from the U.S. Essentially, fish farm functions like other farms, but a fish farm raises fish since the harvest. In fact, as of 2009, at least 50 percent of the fish consumed in the world is raised on a fish farm. Several grants are offered to encourage a fish farm in the U.S. The availability of financing for fish farm grants varies from year to year, so you need to be sure to investigate each grant before implementing it.
Fishing ponds and other manmade or natural bodies of water are extremely important to America’s economic and environmental health. If you’re in look for grant funding to help with the construction, maintenance, or conservation of a fishing pond there are various government agencies that will provide much-needed funding to assist you. Becoming aware of what services to turn to will help you in finding the funding you require.
Grants for Fish Farms
- Lake and Pond Grant Program
For Massachusetts residents, the Lake and Pond Grant program offers financing for its preservation, improvements, and creation of public ponds and lakes around the commonwealth. These grants are competitive and are capped at a maximum of $25,000.
- Recreation Resource Management Grant
The Recreation Resource Management Grant may be utilized to assist the conservation and resource maintenance of lands characterized by the Bureau of Land Management, mostly located in the Western United States and Alaska. These grants may be used to pay for the conservation or production of rivers and fisheries in these areas. Grants are given on a competitive basis. For application, substances contact the Bureau of Land Management.
- Fish Habitat App
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources provides a Fish Habitat program that funding the construction and upkeep of fishing ponds. The grant funds may cover the price of property acquisition around 90 percent of the cost and could possibly be used for various other functions like dredging of pond waters, manipulation of fish organisms in addition to the construction of aeration systems. For application, substances contact the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
- Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program
The Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program is administered by the National Marine Fisheries Service, a branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The grant is provided to fund research and development projects on fish farms. However, funds won’t be granted for fish farm startup funding and also for infrastructure. You may apply for this grant for your fish farm throughout the Grants.gov website. Programs are reviewed for technical merit and usefulness to the fishing industry.
- NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Research Program
The NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Research Program, in partnership with the National Marine Aquaculture Initiative, provides grants to make environmentally sustainable aquaculture. A significant goal of the application is to establish the infrastructure to create sustainable and protected seafood for the general public. The grant funds outreach, study, and management. The grant application and program can be viewed on the Grants.gov site. You may ask up to $400,000 in grant funds per program.
Much like the NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Research Program, the NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Extension and Technology Transfer provide grant funds to enhance the expansion of renewable and Secure aquaculture into the ocean, coastal and Fantastic Lakes areas. Applicants may request up to $300,000 from this grant. The grant program may also be considered on the Grants.gov site. Applications should indicate the expansion of aquaculture into various geographical places or the transport of aquaculture technology to new places.
- Small Business Innovation Research: Aquaculture
The Small Business Innovation Research: Aquaculture grant is provided by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This grant program puts particular focus on research which will cause the improved efficacy of fish farms in the U.S. Research centered on commercially important fish species is valuable in receiving this award. Even though the grant is focused on the study, small companies can use it through Grants.gov.