BOEM FY 2020 Environmental Studies Program (ESP) | M20AS00009

Opportunity Information: Apply for M20AS00009

The BOEM FY 2020 Environmental Studies Program (ESP) opportunity is a targeted, competitive cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Region. The funded project is titled "Supplemental Data Regarding the Behavioral Response of Rock Crabs to Subsea Cables with Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) and Potential Impact to Fisheries" (National Studies List #PC-19-02). Its central aim is to generate practical, fisheries-relevant science on whether subsea power cables used to connect offshore renewable energy facilities (especially wind) could change the behavior of commercially important rock crab species by discouraging them from crossing over cables to reach baited traps.

The grant is grounded in BOEM's authority and responsibilities for offshore renewable energy development on the OCS. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 established BOEM's ability to issue leases, easements, and rights-of-way for renewable energy projects offshore and set the broader policy framework for managing those activities. In addition, Section 19(e) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act authorizes BOEM to use cooperative agreements with affected states, emphasizing shared information, coordinated expertise, and alignment with applicable federal and state requirements tied to offshore operations. In practical terms, the opportunity reflects BOEM's need to answer specific environmental and socioeconomic questions that arise when new offshore infrastructure is placed in areas used by commercial fisheries.

The purpose of the study is narrowly defined: test whether alternating current (AC) export cables and other power cables associated with offshore wind infrastructure produce electromagnetic fields that function like an "electrified fence" along the seafloor. The concern is that EMF could deter crabs from crossing the cable corridor, potentially reducing crab entry into baited traps similar to those used in West Coast fisheries. By directly evaluating this behavioral response, the work is intended to clarify whether cable installation could create localized barriers or avoidance zones that affect catch rates, fishing efficiency, and ultimately the economic contributions of the rock crab fishery to coastal communities.

BOEM describes the expected value of the research as both practical and regulatory. On the practical side, the results would help West Coast rock crab fishermen and coastal states and local governments better understand and anticipate how offshore renewable energy infrastructure might interact with fishing activity. On the regulatory side, BOEM highlights that the data will support science-informed decision-making and help the agency perform analyses required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), where site-specific evidence about potential impacts is often essential for environmental reviews, mitigation decisions, and stakeholder engagement.

In terms of funding and structure, BOEM anticipated a single award with an award ceiling and total available funding of about $240,000, contingent on appropriations and availability of funds. The expected period of performance spans FY 2020 through FY 2021. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies a more substantial level of federal involvement in the project compared with a standard grant (for example, coordination on study design, deliverables, or data needs). The opportunity is listed as discretionary funding in the environment activity category (CFDA 15.423).

Eligibility and competition are also tightly scoped. While the announcement lists eligible applicants such as state governments, county governments, and public/state-controlled institutions of higher education, BOEM makes clear that this is not an open solicitation for any topic or any applicant nationwide. Instead, it is a program announcement for a specific project, open only to eligible institutions within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network. BOEM indicated it planned to fund one proposal under this announcement and that no other proposals beyond the described project were requested at that time.

Key administrative details include Funding Opportunity Number M20AS00009, a creation date of April 30, 2020, and an original closing date of June 30, 2020. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a focused applied research effort supporting offshore renewable energy planning on the Pacific OCS, aimed at resolving a specific fisheries interaction question: whether EMF from AC subsea cables could measurably reduce rock crab movement across cable routes and, as a result, reduce trap entry and affect commercial fishing outcomes.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BOEM FY 2020 Environmental Studies Program (ESP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.423.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 30, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2020. (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 $240,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for M20AS00009

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