RFAs: Ecosystems and Oceans Science Contribution Framework (Canada)

The Department provides funding to projects that deliver scientific research and related scientific activities that support evidence-based decision making and increase public understanding of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Related scientific activities complement and extend scientific research by contributing to the generation, dissemination and application of scientific and technological knowledge. Examples of this include:

• data collection and integration
• ocean and freshwater monitoring
• data analyses
• modelling and hypothesis testing
• scientific capacity building (Indigenous recipients only)
• communication of science in support of ocean literacy.

Priority Areas

• Environmental Preparedness and Response Science (EPRS)
  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Environmental Preparedness and Response Science (EPRS) program is seeking submissions for research projects that aim to address knowledge gaps on oil spill fate and effects, as well as advance publications, predictive models, tools and assessment techniques for spill response and recovery. The results of funded research will enhance the department’s capacity to protect aquatic species in the event of a spill. Applicants seeking funding to address the following priorities have the option to conduct laboratory studies or use information from past research:
    • Address key knowledge gaps on the impacts of oil and its degradation products in Canada’s coastal regions. This includes studying short- and long-term effects on intertidal species and vegetation of importance to coastal communities, improving post-spill evaluation, identifying recovery endpoints and advancing tool development.
    • Improve their understanding of how oil spills affect marine mammals, focusing on exposure pathways and toxicity mechanisms. This involves studying the effects of petroleum hydrocarbons and developing methods to link biomarkers of oil exposure to toxicological effects and specific oil sources.
    • Conduct research on the composition, aquatic toxicity, and behavior of new and alternative marine fuels, such as biofuels or low sulfur fuels, and carry out studies on the fate and toxicity of market ready or commercially available Alternative Response Measures (ARMs). The aim is to address knowledge gaps, support decision making, and aid Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) in the case of ARMS, considering factors like species, life stages, oil type and environmental conditions.
    • Undertake studies addressing key knowledge gaps on the long-term fate, transport, degradation, and aquatic toxicity of hydrocarbons in nearshore sediments to support oil spill modeling and fate predictions, and advance post-spill recovery assessments.
    • Advance oil spill models to accurately simulate the fate and behavior of marine oil spills, particularly in Canada’s northern coastal waters or high particulate loading areas.
• Marine Environmental Quality (MEQ)
  • MEQ will work with partners to better understand how shipping-related noise affects whales. Initiatives supported though this priority area will help the Government of Canada to identify how to reduce these impacts on whales and other marine species.
  • The specific priorities to be supported by MEQ as part of this funding call are to:
    • Improve understanding of underwater noise in areas used by Arctic whales.
    • Assess impacts of ocean noise on marine mammals’ health and fitness with a focus on population level impacts.
• Marine Conservation Target (MCT)
  • Marine conservation areas are key to supporting the health and sustainability of Canada’s marine environment. Canada has made significant progress in marine conservation in recent years and continues to work in partnership with coastal communities and provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments to reach Government of Canada’s goal of protecting 30 per cent of Canada’s oceans by 2030. Many information sources and knowledge types contribute to marine protected area management and decision making, and collaboration and information sharing are vital in order to leverage accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date ecological and environmental data with approaches that are both effective and sustainable.
  • The specific priorities to be supported by MCT as part of this funding call are:
    • Testing and/or reporting benefits of innovative or practical non-invasive tools and techniques to monitor coastal and/or offshore marine conservation areas.
    • Demonstrating benefits of participatory science and Indigenous-led monitoring activities in existing or potential marine conservation areas.

Funding Information

• Environmental Preparedness and Response Science (EPRS)
  • Funding will be available for 1 year (i.e., fiscal year 2025-26). The program will be considering proposals between $100,000 and $300,000 per project.
• Marine Environmental Quality (MEQ)
  • Funding will be available for 3 years (i.e., from fiscal year 2025-26 to 2027-28). The program will be considering projects up to $500,000 over 3 years with a maximum of $200,000 per fiscal year.
• Marine Conservation Target (MCT)
  • Funding will be available for 1 year (i.e., for fiscal year 2025-26 only). The program will be considering proposals between $75,000 and $500,000 per project.

Eligible Costs

• Payments to eligible recipients may be used to offset reasonable costs of projects under contribution agreements, including eligible costs for:
  • Salaries, stipends, scholarships, wages, and similar payments
  • Mandatory employee benefits;
  • Professional fees;
  • Rental and/or purchase cost of motorized vehicles (cars, trucks, ATVs, snowmobiles, outboard motors), boats, and boat trailers (“Motorized vehicles”)
  • Purchase costs of laboratory and field equipment and instruments, including hydrophones and similar monitoring equipment, but excluding Motorized vehicles;
  • Rental and maintenance costs of laboratory, field equipment and instruments;
  • Rental cost of space, such as laboratory, rooms, office space and facilities;
  • Travel and related costs;
  • Conference and symposia costs, including registration costs;
  • Publishing costs;
  • Communication costs;
  • Data management costs;
  • Costs of materials and supplies;
  • Other costs that directly support scientific research and related scientific activities, pre-approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada up to a maximum of 10% of total eligible costs;
  • DFO may reimburse administrative support costs up to 15% of all eligible costs reimbursed by DFO. The total DFO contribution amount is inclusive of this administrative support. For example, if DFO is contributing $100k towards the eligible costs of the project (before overhead costs); the maximum that DFO will reimburse for overhead is $15k.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible recipients are science organizations engaged in the management, conservation, protection and promotion of oceans and freshwater including:
  • Canadian post-secondary academic institutions
  • Canadian non-governmental organizations
  • Indigenous groups or organizations
  • Canadian provincial, territorial, and municipal governments
  • businesses and industry, including associations
  • community groups
  • Canadian not-for-profit organizations
  • foreign governments and international non-governmental organizations
  • foreign academic institutions
  • port authorities
  • DFO encourages applicants to consider equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the preparation, management, and implementation of their projects. EDI in ocean science and research enhances excellence, innovation and creativity and leads to more impactful results for all Canadians.

For more information, visit DFO.