Effects of the crocodile sanctuary closure and opening of Joe Bay on fishes and recreational fisheries | P16AS00423

Opportunity Information: Apply for P16AS00423

The National Park Service grant opportunity titled "Effects of the crocodile sanctuary closure and opening of Joe Bay on fishes and recreational fisheries" (Funding Opportunity Number P16AS00423) is a cooperative agreement focused on natural resource management in Everglades National Park. It is tied directly to decisions in the park's 2015 General Management Plan, which calls for opening Joe Bay and Snag Bay to public access for non-motorized use and catch-and-release fishing. Because this change could alter both ecological conditions and how people use the area, the project is designed to document what conditions look like before access expands and to track how those conditions may shift once Joe Bay is opened to recreational fishing, even under catch-and-release rules.

A central purpose of the work is to establish a baseline assessment of fish communities and recreational fishing conditions in and around Joe Bay, especially in the context of the crocodile sanctuary closure. In practical terms, that means collecting information that can describe the current status of fish populations, species composition, and related ecological indicators, alongside information on fishing effort and recreational use patterns. With a solid baseline in place, park managers can later compare conditions after access changes and evaluate whether opening the area affects fish abundance, distribution, behavior, or the broader recreational fishery experience. Even catch-and-release fishing can have impacts through handling stress, hooking mortality, changes in fish behavior, shifts in where anglers concentrate, and potential habitat disturbance from increased human presence, so the intent is to anticipate and measure those kinds of outcomes.

This notice is not a competitive funding announcement. It is explicitly labeled as a "Notice of intent to award," and it states that applications will not be accepted. The award is being issued as a task agreement under an existing master cooperative agreement (P15AC00032), meaning the recipient is selected through that prior agreement framework rather than through an open call. The opportunity lists eligible applicants as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, which signals that the work is expected to be carried out by an academic partner with relevant research capacity in fisheries science, ecology, and/or human dimensions of recreational fishing.

Administratively, the opportunity falls under the discretionary category and uses the cooperative agreement instrument, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency in shaping the project, coordinating fieldwork in the park, and ensuring the results support management needs. It is categorized under Natural Resources with CFDA number 15.945, reflecting its alignment with conservation and resource stewardship. The posting indicates an award ceiling of $90,100 and an expectation of a single award, reinforcing that this is a targeted, project-specific effort rather than a broad multi-award research program. The opportunity record was created on August 1, 2016, with an original closing date of August 10, 2016, though the closing date is largely procedural given that the announcement is not accepting applications.

Overall, the grant is about helping Everglades National Park make an informed transition as access rules change in Joe Bay and Snag Bay. By documenting pre-opening conditions and examining how fish and recreational fisheries respond after catch-and-release fishing is allowed, the project supports evidence-based management, helping the park balance public recreational opportunities with the protection of sensitive resources in a region influenced by sanctuary restrictions and conservation priorities.

• The National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Effects of the crocodile sanctuary closure and opening of Joe Bay on fishes and recreational fisheries" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-08-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-08-10. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $90,100.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for P16AS00423

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