Improving the Survival of Delta Smelt Larval Single-Family Groups in a Conservation Hatchery | F19AS00378

Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00378

The government grant opportunity titled "Improving the Survival of Delta Smelt Larval Single-Family Groups in a Conservation Hatchery" (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00378) was a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It was set up as a cooperative agreement, meaning the agency expected to have substantial involvement with the recipient during the project rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. The program falls under the Natural Resources funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 15.678.

The main purpose of the project was highly targeted: to design both a larval culture method and a physical culture system that would maximize the recovery rate (in practical terms, survival and successful rearing) of Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) larvae. A key detail is that these larvae were to be reared as single-family, full-sibling groups, which typically means keeping the offspring from individual breeding pairs separated rather than mixing them. This kind of family-based rearing is important in conservation hatchery programs because it helps managers track genetics, maintain genetic diversity, and avoid unintentional selection or loss of particular family lines. The grant focuses specifically on "refuge stock" Delta Smelt, indicating the fish are part of a protected conservation population maintained as an insurance policy against declines in the wild.

In terms of who could apply, eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity was open to a wide range of entity types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that might have been included in the full announcement text. The funding had an award ceiling of $447,199, with the expectation of making a single award, which suggests the agency anticipated choosing one organization to carry out the full scope of work rather than splitting the project among multiple recipients. The opportunity was created on September 9, 2019, and originally closed on September 16, 2019, reflecting a very short application window. The notice also indicates that a recipient was selected, so the competition is no longer open and the award decision has already been made.

Overall, this grant was designed to support a practical, applied conservation aquaculture effort: improving hatchery techniques and infrastructure to increase larval survival when Delta Smelt are reared in separate family units. The ultimate value of such a project is that higher larval recovery in a controlled, genetics-aware hatchery setting can strengthen a conservation breeding program by producing more healthy juveniles while preserving family representation and genetic management goals.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improving the Survival of Delta Smelt Larval Single-Family Groups in a Conservation Hatchery" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.678.
• This funding opportunity was created on Sep 09, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 16, 2019 The recipient has been selected.. (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 $447,199.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for F19AS00378

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