Request for Proposals: 2026 American Lobster Initiative (ALI) Collaborative Research

Funding for lobster industry and scientists!

Download Full RFP

OPEN FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

The Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative is pleased to announce funding to support new collaborative research projects that closely align with emerging lobster industry and management needs. This request for proposals (RFP) adds to the substantial breadth of previous ALI-funded research by prioritizing projects that create “actionable science” (outputs and findings of the scientific process are useful to and usable by end-user communities) through the co-creation of information and/or products.

To reach this goal, the ALI seeks to support collaborative research practices, the sharing of knowledge, expertise, and resources/capacities amongst the many people who comprise the American lobster industry. Projects must be developed and led by collaborative research teams that include at least one fishing industry representative, such as a commercial fisherman or a representative from a commercial fishing business, including cooperatives, dealers and processors. This call emphasizes research conducted with and for the industry, offering an exciting opportunity to support and elevate industry-research-management partnerships to address current ecological, regulatory, and socio-economic challenges faced by the American lobster fishery.

Apply Here

AWARD TIMEFRAME AND FUNDING

The Sea Grant American Lobster Initiative invites proposals for collaborative research projects to be funded from December 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028. Projects can be up to two years in duration, with a recommended duration of no less than 18 months. 

A total of $400,000 is available to support up to 8 two-year project awards. Project budgets cannot exceed $100,000 (including all direct and indirect costs), and must  include non-federal cost share is required for this competition. See full RFP for guidance.

IMPORTANT DATES

Deadline for LOI: July 3, 2026 by 11:59 PM

Deadline for Full Proposals: August 28, 2026 by 11:59 PM

Informational Webinar: June 16, 2026, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Register here! (Check back after June 17 for the recording.)

Drop-in Proposal Consultation Hours:
June 22, 2026 at 3pm; June 30, 2026 at 10am

ELIGIBILITY

This opportunity is designed to support collaborative research conducted by those affiliated with the American lobster industry (including shoreside supply chain businesses), and any public or private higher education institution, municipal, state, federal, or tribal entity, research laboratory, or other community or non-profit institution. This opportunity is not open to single investigator proposals. Teams must be co-led by at least one researcher (who may be affiliated with private/nonprofit organizations, businesses, or resource management agencies) and one non-researcher (who may be an industry member or be affiliated with a community-led organization). At least one of the co-leading parties (“Co-Lead 1”) must have a mechanism for receiving federal funding and the capacity to manage subawards, if needed. Teams representing multiple perspectives  and expertise are strongly encouraged. 

RESEARCH PRIORITIES

  • Investigations related to the effects of shifting ocean variables (like temperature and circulation) on lobster life cycles, migration patterns, stock structure, and interactions with predators.

  • Projects focused on standardizing and/or synthesizing disparate, existing data sets so that they are usable and integrated (comparing apples to apples). 

  • Projects focused on increasing the geographic and bathymetric coverage of both fisheries-dependent and independent data to better track trends in a rapidly changing ocean.

  • Assessments of the ability of independent owner-operators and coastal communities to navigate abrupt changes in economic conditions, fluctuating costs, and regulatory changes, while piloting innovations in marketing and product utilization.

  • Efforts to test and quantify the efficacy of innovative or untested conservation and/or stewardship measures, such as gear modifications, v-notching, or trap limits, to inform future management and ensure long-term stock sustainability.

CONTACTS

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Michelle Brown and Gabriela Bradt to discuss effective ways to work with the Regional Lobster Extension Program and communicate research.

Michelle Brown
Lobster Research and Extension Coordinator
Maine Sea Grant College Program
Email: michelle.l.brown@maine.edu
Michelle’s Profile

Gabriela Bradt, PhD
Fisheries Extension Specialist
New Hampshire Sea Grant
Email: gabriela.bradt@unh.edu
Gabby’s Profile