Researchers at William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science received five of the 44 grants awarded in 2022 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries’ Saltonstall-Kennedy Program. This annual nationwide grant competition—established by Congress in 1954—is designed to enhance fisheries and marine aquaculture industries throughout the U.S.

Of the 37 institutes or agencies that submitted successful proposals in the latest award cycle, VIMS was the only one to receive more than two winning proposals. Thirty-three entities earned a single award, while three other entities earned two apiece.

VIMS won a full third of the 15 grants awarded in the competition’s aquaculture category, for a total of $1.5 million in research funding.

Overall, NOAA considered 270 pre-proposals and received 137 full proposals during the 2022 Saltonstall-Kennedy award competition. The 44 successful awards total $11.8 million in research funding and will be disbursed to insti...