Lake Roosevelt Burbot Maturation | F17AS00070

Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00070

The Lake Roosevelt Burbot Maturation grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00070) is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Created on December 14, 2016, with an original closing date of December 21, 2016, it was structured as a single-source award under Department of the Interior Policy 505 DM 2.14 B(4) on the basis of unique qualifications. The notice indicates that Montana State University was selected because it is part of the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), a partnership framework commonly used by DOI agencies to support applied research and technical assistance through universities and other partners. The funding amount for this effort had an award ceiling of $75,000, with one expected award.

The project focuses on Lake Roosevelt burbot, supporting the recreational fishery by filling practical knowledge gaps about reproduction that directly affect how managers estimate population status and set harvest strategies. The core purpose is to develop reliable, field-relevant information about gametogenesis, the biological process of egg and sperm development, so that fishery scientists can better assess where the population stands and build more accurate harvest models. In a system like Lake Roosevelt, understanding reproductive timing and maturity patterns is essential because population trends and sustainable harvest limits depend heavily on how many adults are able to spawn successfully each season and how those dynamics vary across years.

The work is organized around three main objectives. First, it aims to describe gametogenesis and the endocrine profile in adult burbot from Lake Roosevelt. In practical terms, this means documenting how gonads develop through different maturity stages and pairing those observations with hormone patterns that track reproductive condition. Establishing those relationships creates a biological baseline that managers and researchers can use to interpret maturity and spawning potential from measurable physiological indicators, rather than relying only on external appearance or limited seasonal sampling.

Second, the project seeks to develop non-invasive and less-invasive tools to determine sex and stage of maturity. This objective reflects a management need to gather accurate reproductive data while minimizing stress, injury, and mortality in sampled fish. Non-invasive approaches typically involve methods that do not require surgery or lethal sampling, while less-invasive approaches reduce the degree of handling or tissue collection. Tools that allow field crews to identify sex and maturity stage more quickly and safely can increase sample sizes, improve data quality, and reduce impacts on a recreational fishery population.

Third, the grant targets the development of non-invasive and non-lethal (or minimally invasive) methods to predict spawning readiness and the likelihood of successful spawning. This is a step beyond simply classifying maturity stage; it is about forecasting whether an individual is close to spawning and whether spawning is likely to occur successfully. If managers can reliably estimate spawning readiness without sacrificing fish, they can monitor reproductive output more effectively, evaluate year-to-year variability in reproductive condition, and feed that information into population assessments and harvest models.

Overall, this opportunity supports applied fisheries research at the intersection of reproductive biology and fishery management. By combining detailed reproductive staging with endocrine profiling and emphasizing practical diagnostic tools that reduce harm to fish, the project is designed to produce information that can be used directly in monitoring programs and management decisions for the Lake Roosevelt recreational burbot fishery.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the information and statistics, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Lake Roosevelt Burbot Maturation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.650.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 14, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 21, 2016 This Single Source Award is being awarded in accordance with Department of the Interior Policy 505 DM 2.14 B (4) Unique Qualifications. Montana State University is a member of the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Study Unit (CESU).. (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 $75,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for F17AS00070

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