Research Set Aside (RSA) Programs

THIS PAGE IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION: ADDITIONAL
PROGRAM INFORMATION WILL BE ADDED AS AVAILABLE

Research Set-Aside programs (RSAs) were developed by the New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) as part of the fishery management plan process, and are administered by the National Marine Fisheries Service. RSA programs encourage cooperative research among fisheries participants, marine scientists, and fishery managers. The goals of the RSA programs are to further the understanding of our nation’s fisheries, enhance information used in fisheries management decision-making, and foster collaborations among marine fisheries interests.

RSA programs are implemented in accordance with individual fishery management plans (FMPs). Some FMPs set aside a portion of the annual fishery-wide quota or Total Allowable Catch (TAC) to be harvested for the purpose of funding research. Fishery management plans such as those for scallops and herring in New England, and summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, tilefish, spiny dogfish, Illex squid, Loligo squid, butterfish, Atlantic mackerel, and bluefish in the Mid-Atlantic reserve up to 2 or 3% of the TAC, depending on the fishery, for research funding. The monkfish FMP sets aside a portion of the days-at-sea (DAS) allocated for fishing to establish an annual pool of research DAS. A vessel that participates in an approved research project may apply for research DAS instead of using valuable fishing time to participate in cooperative monkfish research. Currently, RSA programs have been implemented for Atlantic Sea Scallops, Mid-Atlantic multi-species, Monkfish, and Atlantic Herring.

Requests for RSA proposal submissions are announced annually through  
(FFO) and Federal Register (FR) notices. Applications are typically submitted electronically through the Grants.gov website. Electronic submission requires applicants to first register on the Grants.gov website prior to submitting application materials. Registration is a one-time event that requires several days to process completely, so it should be started well in advance of any deadlines to submit applications. For more detailed information on the RSA program, including the application and awarding process, please see our RSA brochure.

Click on the links below to access listings of RSA research projects descriptions and reports.  Some reports may contain graphics and may take a few moments to download.  If you are having trouble accessing these reports, and would like to receive a hard copy, please send a detailed request to one of the contacts below.

• 2000 - 2007 Scallop RSA Projects
• 2002 - 2008 Mid-Atlantic RSA Projects

Click on the link below to access the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (MAFMC) RSA Program.

• MAFMC RSA Program

Recent Announcements

• May 25, 2007 - Scheduling of a Collaborative Workshop to Discuss Aspects of the Monkfish Research Set-Aside Program

	Cooperative Research Contacts
	POSITION NAME PHONE NUMBER E-MAIL Cooperative Research Coordinator Dr. John Hoey, NEFSC 401-782-3323 john.hoey@noaa.gov Cooperative Research Catalyst Dr. Earl Meredith, NEFSC 978-281-9276 earl.meredith@noaa.gov Research Associate Carolyn Woodhead, NEFSC 978-281-9197 carolyn.woodhead@noaa.gov

	Research Set-Aside Contacts
	POSITION NAME PHONE NUMBER E-MAIL Grants & Acquisitions Coordinator Kelly Taranto, NEFSC 508-495-2312 kelly.taranto@noaa.gov RSA Grant Federal Program Officer Cheryl Corbett, NEFSC 508-495-2070 cheryl.corbett@noaa.gov Mid-Atlantic RSA Program Paul Perra, NERO 978-281-9153 paul.perra@noaa.gov Monkfish RSA Program Allison McHale, NERO 978-281-9103 allison.mchale@noaa.gov Scallop & Herring RSA Programs Ryan Silva, NERO 978-281-9326 ryan.silva@noaa.gov

Last Updated: April 22, 2008