The Virginia Fishery Resource Grant Program (VFRGP) was established by the Virginia Legislature to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s coastal fishery resource. Its mission focuses on supporting projects that contribute to the sustainability and improvement of the fisheries sector through financial grants. This encompasses the advancement of marine fisheries equipment or gear, environmental studies to address water quality and fisheries habitat, aquaculture/mariculture of marine-dependent species, and innovations in seafood technology.
The Virginia Fishery Resource Grant Program (VFRGP) aims to support the fishing industry’s innovative ideas that lack the necessary financial resources for experimentations. It welcomes applications in four priority areas: New Fisheries Equipment and Gear, aimed at eco-friendly practices and bycatch reduction; Environmental Pilot Studies, focusing on habitat restoration and protection; Aquaculture/Mariculture, which seeks to enhance commercial aquaculture practices and diversify the species cultivated; and Seafood Technology and Utilization, focusing on creating value-added products, improving total quality management in the seafood industry, and optimizing packaging and handling methods. The program encourages the submission of proposals that demonstrate technical merit and the potential to address one or more of these specific priorities.